Description

An Atrioventricular (AV) Canal defect is a congenital heart defect characterized by a large hole in the center of the heart where the walls between the heart’s chambers meet. This defect affects the septum between the atria (upper chambers) and ventricles (lower chambers), and involves abnormalities in the heart valves, leading to improper blood flow between the chambers¹².

Key Features:

• Location: The defect is located where the wall (septum) between the upper chambers (atria) joins the wall between the lower chambers (ventricles)¹.
• Valve Abnormalities: Instead of having separate tricuspid and mitral valves, there is a single large valve that crosses the defect².
• Blood Flow Issues: This defect allows oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to mix with oxygen-poor blood from the body, causing the heart and lungs to work harder¹.

Symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing
• Poor weight gain
• Fatigue
• Excessive sweating
• Heart murmurs

Treatment:

• Surgery: Open-heart surgery is typically required to close the hole and reconstruct the heart valves. This is usually done within the first year of life to prevent complications².
• Medications: Used temporarily to manage symptoms but do not cure the defect¹.

Complications if Untreated:

• Heart failure
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Growth delays

Familiarity with Treatment

Treatment for AV Canal defect typically involves open-heart surgery to close the hole and reconstruct the heart valves. This surgery is usually performed within the first year of life to prevent complications such as heart failure and pulmonary hypertension². Medications may be used temporarily to manage symptoms, but they do not cure the defect¹.

Who is it Suitable For?

Surgical treatment is suitable for:

• Infants and young children diagnosed with AV Canal defect, especially those showing symptoms like difficulty breathing, poor weight gain, or heart failure².
• Children with Down syndrome, as they have a higher incidence of AV Canal defects¹.

Who is it Not Suitable For?

Surgical treatment may not be suitable for:

• Patients with severe, irreversible pulmonary hypertension, as the risks of surgery may outweigh the benefits².
• Patients with other severe health conditions that increase surgical risk.

Advantages

• Improved heart function: Correcting the defect allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently¹.
• Reduced symptoms: Surgery can alleviate symptoms such as difficulty breathing and poor growth².
• Prevention of complications: Early intervention can prevent long-term complications like heart failure and lung damage¹.

Complications

• Surgical risks: As with any major surgery, there are risks of infection, bleeding, and complications from anesthesia².
• Residual defects: Some patients may have residual holes or valve issues that require further treatment¹.
• Heart rhythm problems: Arrhythmias can occur after surgery and may need additional management².

Previous Care

Before surgery, care typically includes:

• Monitoring and managing symptoms: Using medications to control symptoms like heart failure¹.
• Nutritional support: Ensuring the child receives adequate nutrition to support growth and development².

Aftercare

Post-surgery care involves:

• Regular follow-up visits: Monitoring heart function and overall health¹.
• Medications: To prevent infection and manage any residual symptoms².
• Activity restrictions: Gradually reintroducing physical activity as the child recovers¹.

If you have any more questions or need further details, feel free to ask!