Atrioventricular septal defect

Atrioventricular septal defect
Other names	Atrioventricular canal defect (AVCD), endocardial cushion defect (ECD)
Specialty	Cardiology
Symptoms	Heart failure; pulmonary hypertension; dyspnea; cyanosis; mitral regurgitation
Types	Partial, Incomplete, Complete, Transitional
Risk factors	Family history of congenital heart disease
Diagnostic method	Ultrasound and echocardiography
Treatment	Open heart surgery

Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) or atrioventricular canal defect (AVCD), also known as "common atrioventricular canal" or "endocardial cushion defect" (ECD), is characterized by a deficiency of the atrioventricular septum of the heart that creates connections between all four of its chambers. It is a very specific combination of 3 defects:

1) Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), a hole in the wall between the right and left atria;

2) Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), a hole in the wall between the right and left ventricles; and

3) Abnormalities of the mitral and/or tricuspid valves.^[1][2]

AVCD is caused by an abnormal or inadequate fusion of the superior and inferior endocardial cushions with the mid portion of the atrial septum and the muscular portion of the ventricular septum.^[3] Unlike some heart defects, the condition will not resolve over time and most infants must undergo open heart surgery. The surgery to correct this defect is usually successful and most babies do very well post-op.^[4]