Atrioventricular septal defects impact the way blood flows within the heart, causing increased blood flow to the lungs. The expert team in the Heart Institute at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, specializes in managing and repairing these defects in babies and children.

Why Choose Johns Hopkins All Children’s

With atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD), there are holes between the chambers on the right and left sides of the heart. Additionally, the valves that control blood flow between the upper and lower chambers are not formed correctly. There are two main types of atrioventricular septal defects: complete (with both an opening in the wall between the upper chambers of the heart, and between the lower chambers of the heart) and partial (with an opening between the upper chambers and a cleft in the left side of the inflow valve).

AVSD may be discovered during routine fetal ultrasounds leading to a prenatal diagnosis. At Johns Hopkins All Children’s, our Fetal Heart Program team provides expert diagnosis using fetal echocardiogram as well as management before birth of congenital heart defects like AVSD.

For children with a partial AVSD, it is often discovered later in childhood. Your child’s pediatrician may hear a heart murmur during a routine checkup. Our expert pediatric cardiologists provide accurate diagnosis using tests such as echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) and an electrocardiogram.

Our board-certified heart surgeons perform repair for AVSD. A baby with a complete AVSD often requires medication to help with breathing and weight gain. Surgical repair is generally done in the first six months of life. Children with a partial AVSD generally require surgical repair at 4 to 5 years of age. Some children have difficulty with weight gain and require medication and earlier surgical repair. Your child’s surgeon and care team will work with you to explain the care your child needs and optimal timing for surgery.

Atrioventricular septal defects include a group of congenital heart defects. Other names for these abnormalities include “endocardial cushion defects” and “AV canal defects.”

Follow-up care

After heart surgery, a child with congenital heart disease is followed by a pediatric cardiologist.

Older teens and young adults can then transition to receive their care from our experts as adults in the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. Adults with congenital heart defects benefit from seeing a provider who understands how congenital heart defects can impact health long term.