Research

Understanding atrioventricular septal defect: Anatomoechocardiographic correlation

Nilda Espinola-Zavaleta¹ , Luís Muñoz-Castellanos² , Magdalena Kuri-Nivón³ and Candace Keirns¹

¹  Echocardiography in Out Patients Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano N°1, Colonia Sección XVI, Mexico City, Mexico

²  Embryology Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano N°1, Colonia Sección XVI, Mexico City, Mexico

³  Morphology Department, Escuela Superior de Medicina – IPN, Díaz-Mirón y Plan de San Luís, Colonia Casco de Santo Tomás, Tacuba, Mexico City, Mexico

author email corresponding author email

Cardiovascular Ultrasound 2008, 6:33doi:10.1186/1476-7120-6-33

Published:	24 June 2008

Abstract

Objective

Correlate the anatomic features of atrioventricular septal defect with echocardiographic images.

Materials and methods

Sixty specimen hearts were studied by sequential segmental analysis. Echocardiograms were performed on 34 patients. Specimen hearts with findings equivalent to those of echocardiographic images were selected in order to establish an anatomo-echocardiographic correlation.

Results

Thirty-three specimen hearts were in situs solitus, 19 showed dextroisomerism, 6 were in situs inversus and 2 levoisomerism. Fifty-eight had a common atrioventricular valve and 2 had two atrioventricular valves. Rastelli types were determined in 21 hearts. Nine were type A, 2 intermediate between A and B, 1 mixed between A and B, 4 type B and 5 type C. Associated anomalies included pulmonary stenosis, pulmonary atresia atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus and anomalous connection of pulmonary veins. Echocardiograms revealed dextroisomerism in 12 patients, situs solitus in 11, levoisomerism in 7 and situs inversus in 4. Thirty-one patients had common atrioventricular valves and three two atrioventricular valves. Rastelli types were established in all cases with common atrioventricular valves; 17 had type A canal defects, 10 type B, 3 intermediate between A and B, 1 mixed between A and B and 3 type C. Associated anomalies included regurgitation of the atrioventricular valve, pulmonary stenosis, anomalous connection of pulmonary veins, pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary atresia.

Conclusion

Anatomo-echocardiographic correlation demonstrated a high degree of diagnostic precision with echocardiography.