Treatment

Surgery is needed to repair a complete or partial atrioventricular canal defect. More than one surgery may be needed. Surgery to correct atrioventricular canal defect involves using one or two patches to close the hole in the heart wall. The patches stay in the heart permanently, becoming part of the heart's wall as the heart's lining grows over them.

Other surgeries depend on whether you have a partial or complete defect and what other heart problems you may have. For a partial atrioventricular canal defect, surgery to repair the mitral valve is needed so that the valve will close tightly. If repair isn't possible, the valve might need to be replaced.

For a complete atrioventricular canal defect, surgeons separate the abnormal large single valve between the upper and lower heart chambers into two valves. If separating the single valve isn't possible, heart valve replacement of both the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve might be needed.

After surgery

If the heart defect is repaired successfully, you or your child will likely have no activity restrictions.

You or your child will need lifelong follow-up care with a cardiologist trained in congenital heart disease. Your cardiologist will likely recommend a follow-up exam once a year or more frequently if problems, such as a leaky heart valve, remain.

Adults whose congenital heart defects were treated in childhood may need care from a cardiologist trained in adult congenital heart disease (adult congenital cardiologist) throughout life. Special attention and care may be needed around the time of any future surgical procedures, even those that do not involve the heart.

You or your child might also need to take preventive antibiotics before certain dental and other surgical procedures if either of you:

• Have remaining heart defects after surgery
• Received an artificial heart valve
• Received artificial (prosthetic) material during heart repair
• Will receive a heart valve prosthetic in the next six months

The antibiotics are used to prevent inflammation and infection of the lining of the heart (endocarditis).

Many people who have corrective surgery for atrioventricular canal defect don't need additional surgery. However, some complications, such as heart valve leaks, may require treatment.