Atrioventricular Canal Defect

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.  The condition is often associated with Down syndrome. Atrioventricular canal defect allows extra blood to flow to the lungs. Untreated, atrioventricular canal defect can cause heart failure and high blood pressure in the lungs.

http://Down's syndromeChinese patients with Down's syndrome had ventricular septal defect (38%) as the predominant lesion followed by atrioventricular septal defect (25%). Western studies usually report a reverse pattern for these two lesions. The mortality rate for the total cohort was 7.5%. However, of those with conditions with intracardiac mixing and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction many did not survive childhood (20% and 21%, respectively).

Patients with incomplete atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs) present with signs and symptoms similar to those of secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs) and, as such, rarely require medical therapy. Medical therapy in patients with complete atrioventricular septal defects consists of aggressive anticongestive treatment for the signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF). The mainstays of medical therapy are furosemide (for diuresis for the volume-overloaded heart), digoxin (as a mild inotrope), and ACE inhibitors (for afterload reduction).