The Norwood Procedure is the first of three surgeries that is done to reconstruct a baby's hypoplastic left heart. It is usually shortly after birth. Within this surgery, the ventricular function must be preserved by avoiding a pressure load, minimizing pulmonary vascular resistance, and maintaining pulmonary artery growth (adequate size and freedom from distortion). The size of the main pulmonary artery and the length and direction of the ductus are important variables that determine how this procedure will be done. The child is transported to the OR while receiving adequate ventilation. The arterial pressure is montitored through the use of an umbilical arterial, and pulse oximetery (procedure used to measure the oxygen level in the blood) is maintained. A urinary catheter is placed and electrocardiograph monitoring is continued (to montitor the heart).

     Basically, within this surgery, the proximal main pulmonary artery and the aorta are connected and the main pulmonary artery is cut off from the two branching pulmonary arteries that direct blood to each side of the lungs. To get blood to the lungs a shunt is placed between the pulmonary arteries and the aora.