Complications

Possible complications of atrioventricular canal defect include:

• Enlargement of the heart. Increased blood flow through the heart forces it to work harder than normal, causing it to become larger.
• High blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension). When there is a hole in the heart that allows mixing of oxygenated (red) and deoxygenated (blue) blood, the amount of blood that goes to the lungs is increased. As a result, pressure builds up in the lungs.
• Respiratory tract infections. A person with atrioventricular canal defect may have repeated lung infections.
• Heart failure. Untreated, atrioventricular canal defect usually makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.

Treatment greatly improves the outlook for children with atrioventricular canal defect. However, some children who have surgery to treat atrioventricular canal defect may have heart problems when they are adults, including:

• Leaky heart valves
• Narrowing of the heart valves
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Breathing problems due to lung damage

Pregnancy

Women who had an atrioventricular canal defect that was surgically corrected before any permanent lung damage occurred can generally expect to have normal pregnancies. However, pregnancy isn't recommended in women who had serious heart or lung damage before atrioventricular canal defect surgery.

Evaluation by a cardiologist trained in congenital heart disease (adult congenital cardiologist) is recommended for women with repaired or unrepaired atrioventricular canal defect before they attempt pregnancy.