Atrioventricular canal defect is a combination of heart problems resulting in a defect in the center of the heart. The condition occurs when there's a hole between the heart's chambers and problems ...

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Atrioventricular canal defect is a combination of heart problems resulting in a defect in the center of the heart. The condition occurs when there's a hole between the heart's chambers and problems with the valves that regulate blood flow in the heart.

FAQ

What is atrioventricular canal defect (AVCD)?
It is the development of a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the upper chambers of the heart (atria) from the lower chambers (ventricles).

What causes an AVCD?
AVCD is a developmental disorder, it occurs when the heart is forming in the womb before birth.

What are the risk factors for AVCD?
Children with Down syndrome are susceptible to AVCD. Other associated factors are family history of heart problems by birth, consumption of alcohol or certain medicines during pregnancy by the mother.

How is AVCD diagnosed?
If suspected AVCD (by hearing a whooshing murmur sound on stethoscope), doctors often prescribe an echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray with or without injecting a dye that makes the heart structures more visible on x-ray film.

What is the treatment for AVCD?
The only treatment for AVCD is surgery, usually done within 6 months of birth.

How is AVCD surgery performed?
In AVCD surgery, the hole in the septum is covered by artificial patches in an open heart surgery. Later, lining of the heart encloses the patch and becomes continuous repairing the defect permanently. If any valve defect or other congenital defect is present, it is corrected simultaneously.

What is the result and long term outcome of the surgery?
The blood circulation is restored immediately after the surgery, though monitoring is required. Long term outcome is good as well; patients usually require no other surgery or medications.

What are the risks of AVCD surgery?
Endocardium is the lining of the heart within the chambers. Endocarditis (infection of endocardium) is the most prominent risk of AVCD surgery. To eliminate this, antibiotics are given before and after surgery.

Can a child who had an AVCD surgery lead a normal life?
After the surgery, blood circulation restores to normal. The child leads a normal life but has to keep get examined by a cardiologist or paediatrician to check the repaired defect and valves.

What are the restrictions to be followed by the child after AVCD surgery?
The child need not follow any restrictions on physical activity and can lead a normal life after surgery.

How long does AVCD surgery last?
An AVCD repair surgery can last a lifetime, in most patients. In some cases, however, the repaired defect may leak or there may be backflow from the repaired hole later in life. This can be fixed by another surgery.