Postoperative echocardiographic assessment of patients with atrioventricular septal defect

Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a combination of an atrial septal defect type ostium primum, an inlet ventricular septal defect, and a common atrioventricular (AV) valve. In the partial type, there is no ventricular communication, and the common AV valve is divided into two separate orifi ces. Both kinds of AVSD can be corrected surgically through closure of the septal defects and AV valve plasty. The postoperative echocardiographic follow-up includes an assessment of residual septal defects, AV valve function, left ventricular outfl ow tract obstruction, ventricular dimensions and function, and indirect estimation of pulmonary artery pressure.