Oral administration of prostaglandin E2 in the hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Oral administration of prostaglandin E2 resulted in marked clinical and hemodynamic improvement in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. A lessening of metabolic acidosis and an increase in blood pressure were evident. These results indicate that the ductus arteriosus was effectively dilated by oral prostaglandin E2 in patients with ductus-dependent systemic circulation, as in the case of ductus-dependent pulmonary circulation. Surgical risk will also be reduced by pretreatment with oral prostaglandin E2.