Best Paediatric Cardiologists for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome in India
This page lists 14 hypoplastic left heart syndrome doctors in 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 14 hypoplastic left heart syndrome doctors in India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.
About Hypoplastic left heart syndrome doctors in 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.
About the Condition
What is Hypoplastic left heart syndrome?
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a severe congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart — including the left ventricle, aorta, and associated valves — is critically underdeveloped and unable to support normal circulation to the body. Without intervention, HLHS is fatal within the first days or weeks of life, as the newborn depends on a patent ductus arteriosus and an atrial septal opening to maintain any blood flow. Associated risks include heart failure, inadequate oxygen delivery to organs, stroke, and serious complications affecting the liver, kidneys, and brain over time. Management planning always depends on a thorough individual assessment by a specialist team, taking into account the infant's anatomy, overall health, and the specific degree of underdevelopment identified through cardiac investigations.
Individual assessmentEvery case is different
Complete evaluationUnderstand the condition first
Specialist reviewChoose the right approach
Medical assessment helps clarify severity and identify appropriate options.
Treatment options for Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Care may include lifestyle changes, medical treatment, specialist review or a procedure, depending on the diagnosis, associated conditions and individual goals. The options below are associated with this condition in the GAF Healthcare directory.
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.
Why it may be consideredDuring 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).
The Fontan procedure is a staged palliative open-heart surgery performed in children with single-ventricle heart defects, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, who have already undergone earlier surgeries (Norwood and Glenn/hemi-Fontan procedures).
Why it may be consideredIt reroutes venous blood from the lower body directly to the pulmonary arteries, allowing the single functioning ventricle to pump oxygenated blood to the body more efficiently. It is usually performed between 2-4 years of age and is the final stage of single-ventricle palliation.
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery), Fellowship in Paediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Fellowship in Paediatric Cardiovascular Surgery
Program Clinical Director – Paediatric (Ped) Cardiac Surgery · Specialty: Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon
Marengo Asia Hospitals Faridabad, India30+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
30+ years of experience in Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon
Program Clinical Director – Paediatric (Ped) Cardiac Surgery, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad (Present)
Senior Consultant — Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi
Expertise & Procedures
Arterial switch operation (d-TGA)
Double-switch operation (CCTGA)
Fontan and cavopulmonary connection
Biventricular repair for complex congenital defects
NABH — National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditationNABL — National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation
Paediatric CardiologyCardiac SurgeryMedical OncologySpine Surgery
NABH — National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditationNABL — National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation
Paediatric CardiologyCardiac SurgeryMedical OncologySpine Surgery
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.
How this directory is built
Doctors are matched using the specialty, location, condition (Hypoplastic left heart syndrome) 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 Hypoplastic left heart syndrome in 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 surgery?
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 when conservative or medical options have not achieved enough improvement, or when the severity of the condition warrants it. The decision depends on clinical assessment, expected benefits and individual risks.
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 medical summary, investigation and imaging or biopsy reports where relevant, a current medication list, previous diagnoses and related treatment records. Provide clear copies with translation where needed.
How does GAF Healthcare help international patients plan treatment in India?
Our care coordination team helps review initial medical information, connect you with suitable doctors and hospitals, explain next steps and indicative estimates, and organise a treatment plan before travel.
