Heart with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Description

This is a platinated human heart that was explanted from transplant and donated for research. The donor was a 25-year-old male with a history of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). HLHS is a congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart does not develop correctly and may include underdeveloped left ventricles, mitral valves and aortic valves. In this case, the interventricular septum is missing, resulting in a full mix of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. As a result, it is difficult for normal levels of oxygen to be deliverd throughout the body. The Fontan procedure, in which the pulmonary artery and inferior vena cava are connected, was performed on this heart in addition to other cardiac procedures. This heart uses reference number Heart0303. We partner with [LifeSource](http://www.life-source.org/) to receive donated organs deemed not viable for transplant To learn more about cardiac anatomy, visit the [Atlas of Human Cardiac Anatomy](http://http://www.vhlab.umn.edu/atlas/index.shtml)