Atrioventricular septal defect

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 24 Aug 2023

Atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs), also known as atrioventricular canal defects or endocardial cushion defects, comprise a relatively wide range of defects involving the atrial septum, ventricular septum, and one or both of the tricuspid or mitral valve. They can represent 2-7% of congenital heart defects

The estimated prevalence is at ~3-4 in 10,000 births.

It results from deficient development of the apical portion of the atrial septum, basal portion of the interventricular septum, as well as the atrioventricular valves. All four chambers of the heart communicate, therefore, both left-to-right and right-to-left shunts can occur.

Many have been used but can be broadly divided into:

  • complete 

  • incomplete 

An atrioventricular septal defect may also be balanced or unbalanced 8.

Plain chest radiographic features are often non-specific but may show cardiomegaly +/- features of pulmonary hypertension and mitral valve insufficiency.

Allows direct visualisation of the defect spectrum; often a large defect of the midline heart structures is seen. Colour Doppler often aids in further visualisation of the central opening.

An atrioventricular septal defect can give a classical "Gooseneck" sign on a lateral left ventricular angiogram 3.

Allows direct visualisation of the defect spectrum. Can be superior in assessing cardiac chamber dimensions and the presence/extent of ventricular hypoplasia which is a determinant of surgical risk.

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