For which condition may a heart transplant be indicated in a child?

A heart transplant may be indicated in a child with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which is a complex congenital heart defect characterized by an underdeveloped left side of the heart. This condition results in a system where the heart cannot effectively pump blood to the body, leading to severe heart failure. In cases where medical management and reconstructive surgeries (like the Norwood procedure) fail to adequately support the child's circulation or when the child is at end-stage heart failure, a heart transplant becomes a viable and life-saving option.

The other conditions listed may still be managed with surgical interventions, medications, or other non-transplant strategies. Patent ductus arteriosus and ventricular septal defect can often be effectively treated surgically or through catheter-based methods, addressing the issues without necessitating a transplant. Pulmonary stenosis, while serious, can also typically be treated through procedures like balloon valvuloplasty or surgical valve repair, which can relieve the obstruction and improve heart function. Thus, hypoplastic left heart syndrome stands out as a condition where heart transplant is a recommended course of action when standard treatments are inadequate.