What is Atrioventricular Septal Defect - AV Canal?

A congenital heart problem, or birth defect, is an atrioventricular (AV) canal defect. This condition pertains to a group of many heart issues, such as malfunctioning heart valves and a hole in the wall (septum) at the middle of the heart.

The illness causes your heart to pump blood too forcefully. Also, it causes blood to flow in the incorrect direction. Congestive heart failure is one of the many illnesses that can result from an AV canal abnormality.

This can be fixed surgically, and the success rate is high. Children typically live no more than two or three years without the procedure.

What Happens in an Atrioventricular Canal Defect?

The left atrium, right atrium, and left and right ventricles are the four chambers of the heart. Splitting the left and right sides of the heart is a wall called the septum. The right ventricle and the left atrium are divided by the tricuspid valve and the left ventricle and left atrium are by the mitral valve, respectively.

The heart's middle did not develop normally in the AV canal. A partial or complete AV canal may result in the following:

• An opening (an atrial septal defect, or ASD) in the upper portion of the septum between the atria.
• A hole (ventricular septal defect, or VSD) in the lower septum between the ventricles
• Instead of the tricuspid and mitral valves acting independently or abnormally, there is a big single valve that sits between the atria and ventricles.

The atria and ventricles share a big common valve, as well as an ASD and a VSD, in a baby with a complete AV canal.

When a baby has a partial AV canal, they do not have a VSD, but they do have an ASD and an aberrant or common valve between the atria and ventricles.

What is the AV canal defect also known as?

Additional terms for the AV canal problem are:

• Atrioventricular canal defect.
• Endocardial cushion defect.
• Atrioventricular septal defect.

What are the symptoms of AV canal defect?

The following symptoms of an atrioventricular canal defect may appear soon after birth in a baby:

• A blue color to their skin is called cyanosis.
• Feeding difficulties.
• Weariness, particularly during mealtimes.
• Palpitations or racing in the heart.
• Breathlessness (dyspnea).
• The slow increase in weight.
• Swelling (edema) in their legs or abdomen.
• Weak heartbeat.

The symptoms of minor partial or transitional AV canal abnormalities may not appear in a baby until later in childhood, or even in adolescence or early adulthood.

What causes Atrioventricular Septal Defect - AV Canal?

There are no known causes of atrioventricular septal defects. There's probably a mix of environmental and genetic factors at play. This congenital cardiac abnormality is highly correlated with Down syndrome.

How is an Atrioventricular Septal Defect - AV Canal diagnosed?

An atrioventricular canal deficiency is frequently diagnosed prenatally by a healthcare professional using a few tests:

A fetus's heart can be seen beating in moving images obtained by prenatal ultrasonography. An ultrasound may reveal a significant septal defect.

An ultrasound produces images of the heart, while a fetal echocardiography produces more detailed images. The structure and efficiency of the heart's blood pumping can be provided to a healthcare professional by it.

Your baby's heartbeat may be monitored by a healthcare professional using a stethoscope after delivery. Their septum may be broken, causing an unusual "whooshing" sound that indicates blood flow. Additional postnatal testing could consist of:

• Chest X-ray- Your baby's heart's dimensions and form can be seen on a chest X-ray.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) - The electrical activity of your baby's heart is monitored with an electrocardiogram (EKG).
• Cardiac catheterization- Cardiac catheterization to assess the severity of the problem.
• Heart MRI- Heart MRI displays the components of your baby's heart and their level of function.

Your child could occasionally have a minor septal defect that doesn't show any symptoms when they are first born. Before a medical professional notices the illness, it could take years.

How do you fix AV canal Defects?

Open heart surgery is typically necessary to correct an AV canal problem. Your baby's septum hole will be patched during atrioventricular septal defect surgery by your surgeon. If there is a complete defect, the physician doing the surgery on your kid will also separate the one heart valve into two separate valves on the left and right sides of the heart.

A newborn born with an imbalanced AV canal abnormality will require multiple surgeries before undergoing a Fontan treatment.

To prevent permanent damage to the heart, surgery should be performed as soon as feasible. During the first six months of life, a lot of babies undergo this operation. During their first three years of life, some babies who have a partial abnormality but no symptoms might have surgery.

Medication may be required to control symptoms in a baby who isn't well enough for surgery until they become stronger and gain more weight. An additional choice is pulmonary artery banding, a temporary operation. Reduced blood flow via the pulmonary artery to the lungs results from this. A permanent repair may be necessary later on for babies who undergo pulmonary artery banding.

Is it possible to prevent an atrioventricular septal defect?

An AV septal defect cannot be avoided. However, if you're expecting, you can lower your baby's chance of having a congenital heart abnormality by: Steering clear of alcohol, tobacco products, and recreational drugs.

• Obtaining all recommended immunizations to stay healthy.
• Keeping a weight that is appropriate for your physique.
• Handling long-term medical issues.

Follow your doctor's instructions and take folic acid and other prenatal vitamins.

How do I take care of my child?

It could be necessary to restrict your child's physical activity. Find out from the pediatric cardiologist if this is necessary for your child.

Before visiting the dentist, children with an atrioventricular septal defect might need to take antibiotics. This can stop an infection in your heart called endocarditis. You can discuss this with your child's cardiologist as well.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Atrioventricular Septal Defect - AV Canal?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital is known for the safe and successful Atrioventricular Septal Defect - AV Canal in Lucknow, India. With our Experienced Pediatric Cardiac Surgeons, modern technology, and dedicated care, the hospital ensures the best outcomes. Patients receive complete support before and after surgery.

To seek an expert consultation for Atrioventricular Septal Defect - AV Canal in Lucknow, India

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Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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