Children’s National HLHS Hybrid Program

Our program uses the hybrid procedure, which is a combination of surgery and cardiac catherization, for babies who are too sick to go through open-heart surgery or too small for typical treatments. The goal of the hybrid procedure is to help to delay more complex procedures until your baby grows stronger and healthier.

The hybrid procedure can be performed within the first few days of life. The surgery consists of reducing the blood flow to both lungs using mini-bands around the lung vessels and implanting a special metal stent into the arterial duct to maintain sufficient blood flow to the organs. This approach eliminates the need of the heart-lung machine and a major surgical operation for vulnerable newborns.

HLHS is a congenital birth defect that affects the normal blood flow through your child’s heart. Your child’s heart has two sides, and each side has two chambers. In HLHS, the larger chamber on the left side of the heart cannot pump oxygen-rich blood to your child’s body properly, which can cause breathing problems, a weak pulse and a bluish skin color. The stronger chamber can support moving blood to the lungs and the rest of the body for a short time, however the extra work that the heart is doing will eventually cause the heart to fail.

Choosing Children’s National for Surgery for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome 

Our HLHS Hybrid Program can provide you with a diagnosis; unique, lifesaving treatment; and the support that you and your baby need.

We provide:

• A one-of-a-kind program. We are one of the very few hybrid programs that offer minimally invasive approaches for the tiniest high-risk babies. Our program is equipped to pinpoint your child’s exact condition and tailor a personalized treatment plan for your child based on his or her risk factors. Our goal is to minimize your child’s overall risk by making sure they are strong as possible before they need to undergo open-heart surgery to correct their heart condition.
• Surgical expertise. Can Yerebakan, M.D., founder of the Children’s National HLHS Hybrid Program, is internationally recognized for his contributions to the field of congenital cardiac surgery and for helping to restore structure and function for end-stage heart failure in children. Dr. Yerebakan specializes in the hybrid treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), performing the first hybrid procedure at Children’s National in December 2017. Meet the HLHS Hybrid Program team.
• Pioneering research. We are actively developing newer and safer ways to perform cardiac procedures on young patients, with some of the world’s leading experts in cardiac catheterization and imaging. Joshua Kanter, M.D., director of Interventional Cardiology, specializes in diagnostic and interventional pediatric cardiac catheterization for the treatment of congenital heart disease. Dr. Kanter has extensive experience implanting the Melody® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve and is an expert in the device closure of atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, and patent ductus arteriosus.
• Innovative technology. At Children’s National, we don’t just use advanced techniques and devices. We are actively involved in identifying and developing the next generation of procedures and technology, such as tiny pacemakers for infants, that will enable the safest and most effective care of children’s hearts. In addition, we are the only program in the United States using a specifically designed ductal stent for the arterial duct for our HLHS patients. 
• Comprehensive follow-up care. After your child’s heart surgery, they will be admitted to the Children’s National cardiac intensive care unit (CICU), where our expert team of heart specialists will be involved in your child’s treatment immediately. Your child will receive highly specialized care from specially trained cardiologists and advanced practice providers that will help prepare your child to transition home.

Pediatric Surgery Options for Hypoplastic Heart Syndrome

Right after your baby is born, a hybrid procedure may be needed to help increase blood flow to your child’s body and restore heart function. Hybrid procedures are lifesaving procedures for children who are too sick or small for more invasive surgeries and treatment methods.

At Children’s National there are two ways that we start to treat our hypoplastic left heart syndrome patients: