Evaluation of Partial and Complete Atrioventricular Canal Defects in 22 Patients

Twenty-two children were diagnosed as AV canal defects by echocardiography, at the Ankara University, Pediatric Cardiography, at the Ankara University, Pediatric Cardiology Department, between 1992 - 1995. The age range was 3 days to 13 years and the male/female ratio was 1,2. Thirteen patients were diagnosed as Down syndrome by chromosomal analysis. Eleven cases each were classified as incomplete and complete AV canal defects. In the patients with Down syndrome, the most frequent AV canal defect was the complete type (91 %). Ten cases of complete canal defects were classified as Rastelli A, and one case as Rastelli B. Palliative or corrective surgery was performed in 6 patients. Two-dimensional echocardiography is highly reliable in identification of AV canal defects. It is necessary to evaluate the chordal attachments and the valve morphology for classification of these defects.