Atrioventricular Septal Defect with Intact Interatrial Septum. Case Report ()
1. Introduction
Atrioventricular septal defect is a rare congenital heart disease [1]. It is common in major chromosomal abnormalities and Down syndrome is predominant [2]. The main lesion is a common atrioventricular junction and its variants depend on the attachment of the bridging leaflets at the atrial or the ventricular component of the septum [3]. It is classified into three anatomical forms that will determine the main clinical manifestations [3] [4]. Shunting in the atrial level is usually described in complete or partial atrioventricular septal defect; sometimes it can be absent because of the presence of an intact interatrial septum which can be explained by the attachment of the bridging leaflets to the interatrial septum [5]. In this paper we describe an atrioventricular septal defect with an intact septal component (no shunting in the atrial level) in a 20-month-old infant with Down syndrome to emphasize the variability of the so-called atrioventricular septal defect.
2. Case Presentation
This is a 20-month-old female infant without a history of disease or defects in her family. She was admitted to our department for a stage 3 dyspnea related to the New York Heart Association classification and a tachycardia. Symptoms evolved since seven (07) days of life. Physical examination found a Down syndrome morphology. The blood pressure was 102/70 mm Hg; heart rate was 119 beats per minute and the temperature was 36.7˚C. She was 7.2 kg weight and 72 cm height. A mesocardiac holosystolic murmur was also noted. No sign of heart congestion was noted. Chest x-rays (Figure 1) showed cardiomegaly (cardiothoracic index: 0.70); a bulging left middle arc, a double-contoured appearance of the lower right arc, and pulmonary hypervascularization.
The electrocardiogram (EKG) found a regular sinus rhythm (136 beats per minute), right atrial hypertrophy (RAH), and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) (Figure 2).
A transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTE) showed the measurements as follows: 72% for left ventricular ejection fraction, 17 mm (Z: 0.83) for the diameter of the left ventricle (LV), 6.3 mm for the diastole interventricular septum, 22 mm (Z: −2.74) for the diameter of the left atrium (LA), 8.7 mm (Z: −1.47) for the right ventricle (Figure 3).
Another finding was the presence of a persistent left upper vena cava going into the coronary sinus, a 17 mm wide inlet ventricular septal defect (VSD) partially filled with tricuspid tissue but without straddling, a 50 mm Hg transventricular gradient, moderate hypertrophy of pulmonary infundibulum with a maximum pulmonary gradient at 14 mm Hg; a no leaking cleft in left valve, and 2 normally disposed papillary muscles.
![]()
Figure 1. cardiomegaly and pulmonary hypervascularization.
![]()
Figure 2. Sinus rhythm at 136 beats per minute, right atrial hypertrophy (RAH), and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) in the electrocardiogram.
![]()
Figure 3. Precordial four chamber cut from a case with an atrioventricular septal defect and intact interatrial septum. The atrioventricular valves are at the same level and roof a defect in the inlet septum.
The biventricular function was good. There was an absence of atrial septal defect and aortic coarctation. The Ductus arteriosus was closed.
Cardiac catheterization had objectified pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) at 72 mm Hg, a pulmonary hyperflow with Qp/Qs 3.3 and low pulmonary vascular resistances (VPR) with PVRI/SVRI 0.24.
The patient received surgical management after medication (furosemide, spironolactone, and captopril). Surgical repair was performed via a median sternotomy. The child was operated under cardiopulmonary bypass with aorto-bicaval cannulation, and a modified Del Nido cardioplegia in moderate hypothermia (34˚C).
A large 17 mm inlet VSD, a single atrioventricular valve (AVV) with some attachment of the right component valve to the crest of the ventricular septum were founded. The left component (seen after opening the interatrial septum by the foramen ovale) had 3 leaflets with a “cleft” (no connection tongue between the superior and inferior bridging leaflets) at the anterior part; the right component had 3 leaflets. The left vena cava was drained with a venous cannula put in the dilated coronary sinus. The diagnosis was an atrioventricular septal defect with an intact interatrial septum.
The VSD was closed by a heterologous pericardial patch with 6/0 polypropylene. The “clef” was closed. A plication calibrated to its right Hegar dilatator of the left component ring was made for annuloplasty. Then the interatrial septum was closed without a patch.
At the intensive care units, the child had a junctional tachycardia which evolved well under hydrocortisone (Figure 4), a bronchopulmonary infection that required oxygen treatment and antibiotic therapy; a residual pericardial effusion that regressed under enhanced diuretic treatment and ibuprofen. The patient was discharged after 6 days in the intensive care unit and 18 days after surgery. The Doppler echocardiography at 6-month after correction objectified a patch in place with a 2 mm leak, a mild mitral valve leak, and a good function of ventricles (LVEF: 65.5%), TAPSE at 12 mm; systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP) at 38 mm Hg (Figure 5).
![]()
Figure 4. Sinus rhythm 3 days after operation.
![]()
Figure 5. Doppler echocardiography at 6-month after correction objectified a VSD patch in place.
3. Discussion
Atrioventricular septal defect is a rare congenital heart disease (4% - 7%) [1] [3]. It can present itself in a form without an atrial septal defect (ASD). It is a variant that can be encountered and classified in the intermediate form by some authors [3]. In these cases, there is a deficiency of the atrioventricular junction, but the tissue of the atrioventricular valves is attached to the atrial edge of the defect. It results is an absence of shunting at the atrial level [6].
Despite the absence of a genetic diagnosis, which is not accessible, our patient have a Down syndrome morphology. Atrioventricular septal defect is the most common congenital heart disease in this field [2].
This form is like atrioventricular septal defect with a large inlet ventricular septal defect which is early symptomatic [7]. Its particularity is the absence of shunting at the atrial level (ostium primum atrial septal defect) associated with a large 17 mm inlet VSD, a single atrioventricular valve (AVV). In the literature, interventricular shunting alone (inlet ventricular septal defect), or both (most complete Atrioventricular septal defect) can exist depending on whether or not the bridging leaflets are attached to the septal structures [3]. Therefore an author has described a case of atrioventricular septal defect with intact septal structures [8]. Symptoms a failure to gain weight, dyspnea, hyperactive precordium, and a wide ejection systolic murmur area at the left sternal border due to the left to right shunt that resulted in an early rise in lung pressure [1] [9]. The EKG signs (RAH, RVH) observed in our case, are also arguments in favor of diagnosis [3] [10].
The presence of a left upper vena cava vein draining into a dilated coronary sinus (CS) can simulate an atrial septal defect (ASD) at the echocardiography. To have a better understanding of this type of atrioventricular septal defect, the surgeon has to open the interatrial septum in the foramen ovale to allow a better approach and repair of the left component.
Early after the intervention, the occurrence of a junctional rhythm could be explained by an edema of the nodal triangle which is not the same in complete AVSD [11]. It is corroborated by the return to sinus rhythm after 10-days corticotherapy. Infection is common in this area, in our case the diagnosis was retained on the appearance of secretions at extubation. The occurrence of pericardial effusion is also noted more often in cases of Down syndrome.
The long-term prognosis depends on the evolution of a residual mitral regurgitation [12] [13]. It may be favorable because repair in this area of Down syndrome is more favorable [3] [5]. Also, the rise of systolic pulmonary blood pressure has to be taken into account. In our case, the patient was put on pulmonary vasodilator (sildenafil). The residual VSD is mild and will only need to be monitored.
4. Conclusion
Atrioventricular septal defect without atrial septal defect is a rare congenital heart disease. Often symptomatic, it can be revealed by early signs of heart failure. Its diagnosis is facilitated by the Doppler echocardiography which is the gold standard examination. The contribution of catheterization is to be emphasized because of the frequent coexistence of signs of pulmonary arterial hypertension. To avoid its fatal prognosis, early surgical correction is often necessary when symptomatic or if the shunt is not restrictive.
Financial Support
No extramural funding was obtained for this work.
Disclosures
No disclosure.