Best Paediatric Cardiologists for Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart) in Delhi NCR, India

This page lists 1 norwood procedure (hypoplastic left heart) doctor in Delhi NCR, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

Quick answer

This page lists 1 norwood procedure (hypoplastic left heart) doctor in Delhi NCR, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

About Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart) doctors in Delhi NCR, India

This directory is based on doctors currently listed in GAF Healthcare's registry. Clinical suitability varies by patient; a doctor should review your history and investigations before any treatment decision.

Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart) doctors

Dr. Krishna S Iyer Featured

Dr. Krishna S Iyer

MBBS, MS (Surgery), M.Ch (Cardiothoracic Surgery), Fellowship in Infant Cardiac Surgery
Executive Director – Pediatric & Congenital Heart Surgery · Specialty: Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute New Delhi, India35+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 35+ years of experience in Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon
  • Executive Director – Pediatric & Congenital Heart Surgery, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi (1995 – Present)
  • Associate Professor – Department of CTVS, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
Expertise & Procedures
  • Arterial Switch Operation (for TGA)
  • Double-Switch Operation
  • Tetralogy of Fallot Repair
  • VSD Closure (Open and Catheter-Based)
  • ASD Closure
View all procedures →
Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon Experience: 35+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Fortis Escorts Heart InstituteHospital accreditation: JCI, NABH

Hospitals where these doctors practise

Fortis Escorts Heart Institute🇮🇳 New Delhi, India
Starting from$14,000

Fortis Escorts Heart Institute

Est. 1988
JCIJoint Commission International accreditationNABHNational Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditation
Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart)Paediatric CardiologyCardiac SurgeryMedical Oncology
1+
Doctors for Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart)
4.5
24 reviews
310+
Beds
38+
Years Since Founded
Dr. Krishna S Iyer

Why consider treatment in India?

Many international patients consider India for hypoplastic left heart syndrome treatment for several reasons, including:

More affordable estimates

Competitive indicative costs compared with many other countries, for similar clinical standards.

Internationally accredited hospitals

Hospitals experienced in treating international patients.

Experienced specialists

Doctors who regularly manage similar cases.

Care coordination support

A team to help with planning, medical translation and follow-up.

About the Procedure

What is Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart)?

The Norwood Procedure is the first of three staged open-heart surgeries performed in newborns with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a critical congenital defect in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped and cannot pump blood to the body. During this surgery, the surgeon reconstructs the aorta using the pulmonary artery and creates a shunt to ensure adequate blood flow to the lungs, allowing the right ventricle to function as the main pumping chamber. It is a life-saving intervention typically performed within the first two weeks of life, followed by two further staged surgeries (Glenn and Fontan procedures).

Who may be considered?

Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart) may be considered after a qualified specialist reviews your reports and medical history. Suitability varies from person to person and must be assessed by your treating doctor.

How does it work?

The original Norwood technique in which a small synthetic tube (BT shunt) is placed to supply blood flow to the lungs while the aorta is reconstructed.

2 approaches available for this procedure:

Classic Norwood Procedure with Blalock-Taussig (BT) Shunt

Traditional Technique

The original Norwood technique in which a small synthetic tube (BT shunt) is placed to supply blood flow to the lungs while the aorta is reconstructed.

Comprehensive Investigations

Estimated cost: $800 - $1,800

Fetal/neonatal Echocardiography, ECG, Chest X-ray, CBC and coagulation profile, Blood group and crossmatch, Renal and liver function tests, Cardiac CT/MRI (if needed), Genetic screening

Treatment / Procedure Estimate

Estimated cost in India: $14,000 - $22,000

Stay in India

Pre-procedure stay (outside hospital): ~2-3 days
Hospitalisation: ~14-21 days
Recovery period (outside hospital): ~30 days recommended
Total stay: approx 45 days

Usually Included in Hospital Package

  • Pre-operative cardiac evaluation
  • Surgery and ICU care
  • Ventilator support and monitoring
  • Standard medications during stay
  • Post-operative echocardiogram

Usually Not Included

  • International/domestic travel
  • Extended NICU stay beyond standard package
  • Blood products beyond standard allocation
  • Second/third stage surgeries (Glenn, Fontan)

Recovery and follow-up

Infants typically require 2-3 weeks of intensive hospital monitoring followed by close cardiology follow-up, growth monitoring, and preparation for the second-stage Glenn procedure at around 4-6 months of age.

Risks

As a complex neonatal open-heart surgery, risks include arrhythmias, bleeding, infection, inadequate blood flow balance between the lungs and body, and the need for further interventions; overall mortality risk remains higher than most pediatric cardiac procedures due to the severity of the underlying condition.

Alternatives

In select cases, a hybrid procedure (combining a ductal stent with bilateral pulmonary artery banding) may be used as a bridge instead of the full Norwood surgery; heart transplantation is another alternative in specific circumstances, though donor availability is limited.

What we need to prepare a formal estimate

Share whatever you have — the care team will confirm the final checklist after reviewing your case.

Reports required

  • Fetal or neonatal echocardiography report
  • ECG report
  • Chest X-ray
  • Pediatric cardiologist consultation notes
  • Birth weight and gestational age details
  • CBC and coagulation profile
  • Any prior cardiac catheterization report
  • Genetic test results (if performed)

Patient information needed

  • Baby's date of birth and current weight
  • Gestational age at birth (full-term or premature)
  • Any associated congenital anomalies
  • Current feeding and respiratory status
  • History of any prior interventions (e.g., balloon atrial septostomy)
  • Parental/guardian contact and consent details
  • Insurance or payment method for treatment
  • Travel readiness of the family/companion

Costs shown are indicative planning estimates based on typical pricing across leading Indian hospitals. They are not a quote — actual pricing depends on your case complexity, hospital choice, and length of stay. Share your reports for a personalized estimate.

Want a formal estimate?

Share your reports and patient information so our care coordination team can review your case.

How this directory is built

Doctors are matched using the specialty, location, condition (Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart)) and procedure (Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart)) recorded in their profiles. Inclusion is not an endorsement and does not guarantee a treatment outcome.

Need help with the next step?

Share your needs with our care coordination team for information about doctors and hospitals.

Common questions

FAQs about Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart) in Delhi NCR, India

What is Hypoplastic left heart syndrome?
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a critical congenital heart condition present at birth in which the structures on the left side of the heart are severely underdeveloped, leaving that side unable to pump oxygenated blood effectively to the body. It is one of the most complex and serious forms of congenital heart disease.
What are the symptoms and health risks of Hypoplastic left heart syndrome?
In newborns, HLHS typically presents within hours to days of birth with signs such as a bluish or grey skin colour (cyanosis), rapid or laboured breathing, poor feeding, weak pulse, and cold extremities — all reflecting dangerously inadequate circulation. As the ductus arteriosus closes naturally after birth, symptoms escalate rapidly to circulatory collapse and shock if the condition has not been identified and stabilised. These signs are serious warning indicators, but a formal diagnosis can only be established through specialist cardiac evaluation and imaging, not symptoms alone.
How is Hypoplastic left heart syndrome diagnosed?
HLHS is increasingly detected before birth through routine fetal anomaly ultrasound, typically around 18–22 weeks of pregnancy, and confirmed with fetal echocardiography performed by a specialist in fetal or paediatric cardiology. In newborns not diagnosed prenatally, urgent diagnosis relies on clinical examination, pulse oximetry, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), and — most critically — neonatal echocardiography, which defines the anatomy of the left ventricle, mitral valve, aortic valve, and aorta. The severity of underdevelopment across these structures, along with the status of the atrial septum and the ductus arteriosus, guides the urgency and type of intervention planned.
How is Hypoplastic left heart syndrome treated?
HLHS has no meaningful non-surgical pathway beyond initial stabilisation; the condition is uniformly fatal without staged surgical reconstruction or, in selected cases, heart transplantation. The standard surgical approach is a planned three-stage palliative reconstruction: the Norwood procedure performed in the first days of life, followed by the Glenn procedure (bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt) at approximately 4–6 months, and the Fontan procedure typically completed between ages 2 and 5. Each stage is a major open-heart operation, and the overall treatment pathway extends across several years, requiring lifelong cardiac follow-up even after all three stages are complete.
Can Hypoplastic left heart syndrome be treated without a procedure?
There is no curative or long-term non-surgical treatment for HLHS. Initial medical stabilisation — using prostaglandin infusion to keep the ductus arteriosus open, supplemental oxygen management, and close monitoring in a neonatal intensive care unit — is essential as a bridge to surgery, but this is a temporary measure only. Families who decline surgical intervention may be offered comfort-focused palliative care, but this is not a pathway to survival; this decision is deeply individual and must be made in full discussion with the specialist team.
When is Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart) considered for Hypoplastic left heart syndrome?
Norwood Procedure (Hypoplastic Left Heart) may be considered only when it is appropriate for the confirmed diagnosis and the expected benefit outweighs the individual risks. The decision may depend on symptom severity, investigation results, previous treatment, overall health and the patient's goals. A specialist should discuss alternatives and recovery before any procedure is planned.
Which doctor treats Hypoplastic left heart syndrome?
HLHS is evaluated and managed by a paediatric cardiologist, typically working within a specialist congenital heart disease centre. Surgical procedures are performed by a paediatric or congenital cardiac surgeon, and ongoing care involves a multidisciplinary team including neonatologists, paediatric intensivists, cardiac anaesthesiologists, and specialist cardiac nurses.
How do I choose a doctor for Hypoplastic left heart syndrome?
When comparing centres for HLHS care, it is important to look for a programme with documented experience in all three stages of surgical palliation, a dedicated congenital heart disease multidisciplinary team, on-site neonatal and paediatric cardiac intensive care, and a clearly defined long-term follow-up pathway, as outcomes for this condition are strongly associated with centre volume and specialist expertise.
What documents do international patients need to share for a medical evaluation?
Share a concise medical summary, symptom timeline, previous diagnoses, investigation and imaging reports, procedure or biopsy reports where relevant, current medicines, allergies and related treatment records. Provide clear copies with translations when needed. The reviewing doctor may request additional information before giving an opinion.
How does GAF Healthcare help international patients plan treatment in India?
Our care coordination team can review the initial information, help identify suitable doctors and hospitals, request a medical opinion where available, explain next steps and indicative cost information, and support practical planning before travel. A remote opinion does not replace an in-person examination or emergency care.