Atrioventricular Canal (AVC) Repair
Atrioventricular Canal (AVC) repair is performed to correct a problem in the part of the heart that connects the upper chambers (atria) to the lower chambers (ventricles).
Some facts about Atrioventricular Canal (AVC):
- Atrioventricular canal defects can be either complete and partial.
- Complete atrioventricular canal (CAVC) defect is a congenital heart disease in which a large hole is there in the tissue (the septum) that separates the left and right sides of the heart.
- The hole is present in the center of the heart, where the upper chambers and lower chambers meet.
- The valves that separate the upper and lower chambers developed abnormally as the heart formed abnormally.
- There is one large valve instead of two in a child with a complete atrioventricular canal defect, and it may not close correctly.
- Blood from both sides mix as a result of the abnormal passageway between the two sides of the heart, and too much blood circulates back to the lungs before it travels through the body
- Therefore, the heart works harder than normally it should have to, and often becomes enlarged and damaged if the problems aren't repaired.
- A partial atrioventricular canal defect, also known as atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), is the less severe form in which the hole does not extend between the lower chambers of the heart and the valves are better formed.
- Only the atrial septal defect or ASD which is the hole between the upper chambers is necessary to close and a minor repair of the mitral valve can be done.
- Children with an AV canal defects sometimes experience heart problems later in life, including irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and leaky or narrowing valves
- Medicine, additional surgery and/or cardiac catheterization may be required in such cases.
- Blue or purple tint to lips, skin and nails (cyanosis), Difficulty breathing, Poor weight gain and growth, Heart murmur are some of the symptoms that may be present within several days or weeks of birth.
Preparation for Atrioventricular Canal (AVC) Repair:
- Atrioventricular Canal (AVC) can be detected by a fetal ultrasound and/or echocardiogram
- Echocardiogram, Electrocardiogram (ECG), Chest X-ray, Pulse oximetry, Cardiac catheterization, and Cardiac MRI are some of the test required to done before the surgery.
Procedure for Atrioventricular Canal (AVC) Repair:
- Usually, surgery is required within the first two or three months of life for complete AV canal defects.
- The large hole will be closed by the surgeon with one or two patches.
- The patches will be stitched into the heart muscle, and the tissue grows over the patches as the child grows.
- The single large valve will be separated into two valves and the valves will be reconstructed so they are as close to normal as possible, depending on the heart anatomy of child.
- Surgery is also required for partial atrioventricular canal defects, whether they are diagnosed in childhood or adulthood
- The atrioventricular septal defect will be closed by the surgeon with patch or stitch, and then the mitral valve will be repaired or replaced with an artificial valve or a valve from a donated organ.
