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Copyright 1986, 1994, 2005
Synonyms of Atrioventricular Septal Defect
- Atrioventricular Canal Defects
- AVSD
- Common Atrioventricular Canal (CAVC) Defect
- Endocardial Cushion Defects
Disorder Subdivisions
- Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect
- Incomplete Atrioventricular Septal Defect
- Partial Atrioventricular Septal Defect
- Transitional Atrioventricular Septal Defect
General Discussion
Atrioventricular septal defect (ASVD) is a general term for a group of rare heart defects that are present at birth (congenital). Infants with ASVDs have improperly developed atrial and ventricular septa and adjoining valves.
The normal heart has four chambers. The two upper chambers, known as atria, are separated from each other by a fibrous partition called the atrial septum. The two lower chambers, known as ventricles, are separated from each other by the ventricular septum. Valves (e.g., mitral and tricuspid) connect the atria (left and right) to their respective ventricles. The valves allow for blood to be pumped through the chambers. Blood travels from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery to the lungs where it receives oxygen. The blood returns to the heart through pulmonary veins and enters the left ventricle. The left ventricle sends the now oxygen-filled blood into the main artery of the body (aorta). The aorta sends the blood throughout the body.
The parts of the heart described above are formed from an embryonic structure called the endocardial cushions. In individuals with ASVD there is some combination of malformation of these parts of the heart. They may include a hole in the atrial septum, a hole in the ventricular septum, and/or abnormalities of the mitral and triscupid valves. ASVD may be classified as one of three forms: an incomplete (or partial) ASVD (atrial septal defect primum); a transitional form (atrial septal defect and small ventricular septal defect); or a more severe or complete form (large atrial and ventricular defects).
The symptoms of ASVD vary greatly and depend on the severity of the malformations (e.g., valve leakage between ventricles and ventricular size). About half the cases of ASVD occur in children with Down syndrome.
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Organizations related to Atrioventricular Septal Defect
- American Heart Association
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas TX 75231-4596
Phone #: 214-373-6300
800 #: 800-242-8721
e-mail: Review.personal.info@heart.org
Home page: http://www.americanheart.org
- American Lung Association
1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20004
Phone #: 202-785-3355
800 #: 800-586-4872
e-mail: info@lungusa.org
Home page: http://www.lungusa.org
- Congenital Heart Information Network (C.H.I.N.)
101 N Washington Ave, Suite 1A
101 N Washington Ave, Suite 1A
Margate City NJ 08402-1195
Phone #: 609-822-1572
800 #: --
e-mail: mb@tchin.org
Home page: http://www.tchin.org
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
- Kids With Heart National Association for Children's Heart Disorders, Inc.
P.O Box 12504
Green Bay WI 54307-2504
Phone #: 920-498-0058
800 #: 800-538-5390
e-mail: michelle@kidswithheart.org
Home page: http://www.kidswithheart.org
- Little Hearts, Inc.
P.O. Box 171
110 Court Street, Suite 3A
Cromwell CT 06416
Phone #: 860-635-0006
800 #: 866-435-4673
e-mail: info@littlehearts.org
Home page: http://www.littlehearts.org
- MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
- NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda MD 20824-0105
Phone #: 301-592-8573
800 #: --
e-mail: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov
Home page: N/A
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