Complete Common Atrioventricular Canal Defect, also known as Atrioventricular Septal Defect, is a lack of separation of the atria and the ventricles into separate right and left chambers as well as a lack of separation of the mitral and tricuspid valves. The lack of separation of these two valves results in a single atrioventricular valve.
The single atrioventricular valve may not close properly, allowing blood to leak from the ventricular chambers back into the atrial chambers. Therefore, the heart must pump an excessive amount of blood and this may result in an enlargement of the heart.
Surgical repair is required within the first six months of life. The surgery involves sewing patches over the ASD and VSD and carefully separating the single atrioventricular valve into two valves.
View an animated heart with Complete Common Atrioventricular Canal Defect