Abstract
Fifteen infants less than 12 months of age with complete atrioventricular septal defects underwent repair of the defect between January, 1981, and December, 1984. The average age at operation was 8 1/2 months and the average weight was 5.7 kg. Eight of 15 (53%) infants had preoperative mild to moderate mitral insufficiency. Pulmonary artery hypertension was present in all infants and 13 of 15 infants had a pulmonary arterial resistance greater than 4 units (mean 8.8 units). Operative indication was based on pulmonary artery hypertension, congestive heart failure, and failure to thrive. Ventricular distention was utilized during operative repair to assess location of valve incision, level of attachment of valves to the patch, and cleft approximation. It was also used to check the competency of the mitral repair once complete. The average circulatory arrest time was 55.7 minutes. There were no operative deaths. There were two late deaths. We conclude that ventricular distention is the key to the operation, and operative repair is safe in infants with atrioventricular septal defects.
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