HLHS Diagnosis
When you get the news
Hearing that something might be wrong with your baby is devastating; you want as many answers as you can get. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a congenital heart defect where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped, preventing enough blood from pumping to the body. In many cases, HLHS is diagnosed in utero, before the baby is born. Our multidisciplinary team is highly experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of HLHS.
Learn more about HLHS
Our families discuss their experience with HLHS
These families received options from doctors at other hospitals that they wouldn't accept. Children's Colorado gave them a path of hope for HLHS babies – from prognosis to surgery to life after.
Facts about HLHS
Though babies born with HLHS need significant medical care beginning as soon as they are born, with proper diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, they can grow up to live a mostly normal life.
Advanced fetal treatment
Our Colorado Fetal Care Center is equipped to care for expecting moms and babies with the most complex conditions, including HLHS. We have one of the few fetal cardiology programs in the nation where you can both deliver your baby and receive pediatric sub-specialty care for your child after birth.
Keeping mom and baby close
Instead of having the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) in another building like other hospitals, ours is just a floor below the delivery suite. So, while your child is recovering from heart surgery and you're recovering from delivery, you'll always be near each other.
Learn more about our Center
Cutting-edge HLHS research
We are the only hospital in the Rocky Mountain region participating in Mayo Clinic's HLHS consortium, offering families access to groundbreaking research in regenerative medicine. Here, you can choose to collect your baby's umbilical cord blood, making it possible for your child to participate in current (and future) clinical trials.
Learn about the current trial
Additional pediatric cardiology resources
Read inspiring stories from HLHS survivors and patients living with other heart conditions.
Results from our research studies provide invaluable information about fetal cardiology procedures and innovations.
Discover resources and tools other families have found helpful through their journeys with HLHS.

Partnership with the University of Colorado School of Medicine
Children's Hospital Colorado partners with the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where many of our physicians and care providers serve as faculty.