Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect

Abstract

Complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a complex and relatively common congenital cardiac defect. The prognosis without surgical correction is generally quite poor. Current practice in most centers is repair in infancy, usually around 3-4 months of age. Repair involves septation of the atrium and ventricles, as well as partitioning and repair of the common AV valve. The Nunn repair is our preferred technique, although other operative strategies have been applied successfully over the years. All available techniques are technically demanding. Results of surgery in thousands of cases suggest that the natural history of this disease has been improved significantly.