title: Anatomically sound, simplified approach to repair of "complete" atrioventricular septal defect.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are few congenital anomalies of the heart that have benefited more from thorough anatomic analysis than the complex anomaly known as atrioventricular septal defect in the setting of common atrioventricular junction. Recent advances in understanding the anatomy of this lesion have led to alternative methods of repairing these defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 21 consecutive patients undergoing repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect have been reviewed. Nine of these patients had a standard one- or two-patch repair, and 12 had direct closure of the ventricular element of the defect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Direct closure resulted in significantly shorter pump and cross-clamp times. Follow-up for an average of 34 months suggests that when direct closure can be performed, the results are comparable with those of the more standard technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our initial success with this approach is encouraging; however, longer follow-up is required to establish whether it will be broadly applicable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Frantz
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mill
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006343:Heart Septal Defects / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation