Atrioventricular (AV) Canal Defect in Children

What’s an atrioventricular canal defect in a baby?

An atrioventricular (AV) canal defect is a congenital coronary heart defect. Which means that your youngster is born with it. AV canal defect is a big gap within the heart of the guts. It’s brought on by a mixture of issues with the guts’s construction.

Atrial septal defect. That is a gap within the wall (septum) between the two higher chambers of the guts. These are referred to as the appropriate and left atria.

Ventricular septal defect. That is a gap within the wall between the two decrease chambers of the guts. These are referred to as proper and left ventricles.

Improperly fashioned mitral or tricuspid valves. That is when the valves that separate the higher coronary heart chambers from the decrease coronary heart chambers aren’t fashioned proper.

Different coronary heart issues comparable to tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and transposition of the good arteries (TGA) additionally generally happen.

There are a number of forms of this coronary heart defect relying on how broad the defect is. These circumstances trigger oxygen-rich (crimson) blood and oxygen-poor (blue) blood to combine. This sends additional blood to your kid’s lungs.

What causes an AV canal defect in a baby?

Genes and household historical past might play an element in AV canal defects. AV canal defects are sometimes linked to Down syndrome or different chromosome issues.

What are the signs of an AV canal defect in a baby?

The signs of AV canal defect could also be much like signs brought on by different coronary heart issues.

Infants with AV canal defects typically have signs. They will embody:

Tiredness

Sweating

Pale, cool pores and skin

Quick, heavy respiration

Quick coronary heart price

Chest congestion

Hassle feeding

Not sufficient weight achieve

Your youngster’s signs rely upon the scale of their septal openings. The bigger the openings, the extra blood is ready to go via them. This could overload your kid’s coronary heart and lungs. Which means that your youngster’s signs could also be extra extreme.

Over time, the stress in your youngster’s lungs will pressure blood again to their coronary heart. This blood has low oxygen ranges, and it’s despatched to the remainder of the physique. This causes your youngster’s lips, nail beds, and pores and skin to show blue (cyanosis).

How is an AV canal defect identified in a baby?

Your youngster could also be identified by ultrasound throughout being pregnant. Or your kid’s healthcare supplier might first suspect a coronary heart defect once they hear an irregular sound (coronary heart murmur) when listening to your kid’s coronary heart with a stethoscope. Your youngster may have signs of a coronary heart downside. Your youngster’s healthcare supplier might refer your youngster to a coronary heart care supplier for youngsters (pediatric heart specialist).

The guts care supplier will examine your youngster and hearken to their coronary heart and lungs. The situation and loudness of the murmur will assist the supplier make the analysis.

Your youngster’s healthcare supplier might then do checks to verify the analysis. The checks your youngster has rely upon their age and situation, and the supplier’s preferences.

Chest X-ray

A chest X-ray might present modifications within the coronary heart and lungs brought on by an AV canal defect.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

This take a look at data {the electrical} exercise of the guts. It additionally reveals irregular rhythms (arrhythmias) and spots coronary heart muscle stress. These points could also be brought on by an AV canal defect.

Echocardiogram (echo)

This take a look at makes use of sound waves to make a transferring image of the guts and coronary heart valves. An echo can present the sample of blood circulation via the septal openings. It might probably additionally present how massive the openings are and the way a lot blood is passing via them. Most AV canal defects are identified with an echo.

Cardiac catheterization

A cardiac catheterization offers very detailed details about the constructions inside the guts. On this take a look at, a small, skinny, versatile tube (catheter) is put right into a blood vessel in your youngster’s groin. Then the healthcare supplier guides it to your youngster’s coronary heart. Your youngster’s healthcare supplier will inject your youngster with distinction dye to see their coronary heart extra clearly. Your youngster’s healthcare supplier will give them medication to assist loosen up and forestall ache (sedation). Your youngster’s blood stress and oxygen ranges will likely be checked through the process.

How is an AV canal defect handled in a baby?

Therapy will rely in your youngster’s signs, age, and normal well being. It should additionally rely upon how extreme the situation is.

All youngsters with an AV canal defect might want to have surgical procedure to repair it. They could additionally want different remedies.

Drugs

Many youngsters will want medication to assist their coronary heart and lungs work higher, comparable to:

Digoxin. This medication helps the guts pump higher.

Diuretics. This medication helps the kidneys take away additional fluid from the physique.

ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors. These medicines make it simpler for the guts to pump blood to the physique.

Vitamin

Infants might turn into drained when feeding. This will likely cease them from consuming sufficient to achieve weight. Your youngster may have:

Excessive-calorie method or breastmilk. Your youngster may have particular dietary dietary supplements added to their method or pumped breastmilk.

Supplemental tube feedings. Your youngster might must be fed via a tube. This small, versatile tube passes via the nostril, down into the esophagus, and into the abdomen. Your youngster might have tube feedings along with or as an alternative of method or breastmilk.

An infection management

Kids with coronary heart issues are in danger for infections of the lining of the guts and coronary heart valves (bacterial endocarditis). Inform your entire youngster’s healthcare suppliers that your youngster has an AV canal defect. Your youngster might must take antibiotics earlier than medical checks or procedures to stop infections.

Surgical procedure

Your youngster will want surgical procedure to restore the septal openings and coronary heart valves. That is accomplished to cease their lungs from turning into broken additional. Your kid’s coronary heart care supplier will determine when the most effective time for surgical procedure is. After the surgical procedure, your kid’s coronary heart care supplier might give them antibiotics. That is to stop infections after they go away the hospital.

Most youngsters have surgical procedure by the age of 6 months. Kids with Down syndrome might develop lung issues earlier and will must have surgical procedure at a youthful age.

What are potential issues of an AV canal defect in a baby?

If left untreated, an AV canal defect may cause a number of issues.

Lung illness

That is due to increased than regular stress within the blood vessels and lungs. This lung injury doesn’t occur immediately. The lungs are ready to deal with additional quantity of blood for some time.

Blue coloring to your youngster’s pores and skin, lips, and nails

Because the arteries within the lungs get thicker, much less blood will circulation from the left to the appropriate facet of the guts and to the lungs. Will probably be simpler for oxygen-poor (blue) blood to circulation from the appropriate facet into the left facet of the guts and on to the remainder of the physique. This stops the physique from getting sufficient oxygen. This causes a blue coloring to your youngster’s pores and skin, lips, and nails.

Infections

Micro organism within the bloodstream may cause infections of the lining of the guts and coronary heart valves.

How can I assist my youngster dwell with an AV canal defect?

All youngsters with an AV canal defect might want to have surgical procedure to restore it. Earlier than surgical procedure, it’s necessary to comply with the suggested medication and feeding schedules.

Many youngsters who’ve had an AV canal defect will dwell energetic, wholesome lives after their surgical procedure. Their exercise ranges, urge for food, and development will return to regular over time. Some youngsters will nonetheless have coronary heart valve issues after surgical procedure. They could ultimately want one other surgical procedure to restore or substitute the leaky or blocked valve or valves. Ask your kid’s healthcare supplier about your youngster’s outlook.

Key factors about an AV canal defect in youngsters

An AV canal defect is a coronary heart downside that youngsters might be born with.

Kids with an AV canal defect must have surgical procedure to restore it.

Many youngsters who’ve had an AV canal defect will dwell energetic, wholesome lives after their surgical procedure.

Subsequent steps

Ideas that can assist you get essentially the most from a go to to your youngster’s healthcare supplier:

Know the rationale for the go to and what you need to occur.

Earlier than your go to, write down questions you need answered.

On the go to, write down the identify of a brand new analysis and any new medicines, remedies, or checks. Additionally write down any new directions your supplier offers you in your youngster.

Know why a brand new medication or therapy is prescribed and the way it will assist your youngster. Additionally know what the negative effects are.

Ask in case your youngster’s situation might be handled in different methods.

Know why a take a look at or process is advisable and what the outcomes might imply.

Know what to anticipate in case your youngster doesn’t take the medication or have the take a look at or process.

In case your youngster has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and function for that go to.

Know how one can contact your youngster’s supplier after workplace hours and on weekends and holidays. That is necessary in case your youngster turns into in poor health and you’ve got questions or want recommendation.