Univentricular Heart

Double Inlet or Double Outlet Ventricle

Double Inlet Ventricle occurs in a number of congenital heart conditions (a problem that a baby is born with). In each of these conditions there is a large pumping chamber (Ventricle) which both collecting chambers (Atria) empty their blood into. There may be a valve at the end of each collecting chamber or just one between the two.

One of the ventricles will be smaller than the other and there will be a large hole (Ventricular Septal Defect) between them. The two major blood vessels leaving the heart, the Pulmonary Artery to the lungs and the Aorta to the body, may leave from either the left or right sides of the ventricle and they may have been swapped around (Transposed).

Treatment for this condition depends on the exact position of all the blood vessels. Your cardiac team will explain the treatment plan for your child.

Follow the links below for possible treatments for this condition: -

1. Possible Treatments For Single Ventricle Conditions

2. Surgical Treatments for Right Sided Single Ventricle Conditions
3. Cavo Pulmonary Connection (Stage Two)
4. The Fontan Procedure (Stage Three)

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Last updated: Aug 2011