title: Double mitral valve orifice in atrioventricular defects.
abstract: Eleven patients with double mitral valve orifice and atrioventricular defects were studied, and the diagnosis proven by open heart surgery. The correct preoperative diagnosis was suggested by a characteristic angiographic appearance of the medial border of the left ventricle. M-mode echocardiography may show the two orifices which are better seen on two dimensional echocardiography. Two operative deaths occurred in patients with a slightly obstructive valve, and one late death followed mitral valve replacement. Eight patients did well after minor repair to a cleft, or leaving the valve untouched. Occasionally a double mitral orifice, if disorganised and slightly stenotic, may cause early deterioration in a patient with an otherwise uncomplicated ostium primum defect. The surgeon should be forewarned of this mitral anomaly since simple repair may be difficult.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D004694:Endocardial Cushion Defects / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000002:abnormalities; D006343:Heart Septal Defects / Q000150:complications*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery