A novel technique for the repair of complete atrioventricular septal defects: simplified 2-patch technique

Today complete atrioventricular septal defects can be corrected with acceptable mortality and postoperative morbidity. Although opinions still differ regarding the most appropriate method of choice, some surgeons have proposed a new technique that involves the direct suturing of common atrioventricular valve leaflets to the crest of the ventricular septum. However, we believe that this new approach may be associated with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and neomitral valve regurgitation. To avoid these potential complications, we decided to modify our repair technique in 2 patients. In this simplified 2-patch technique, the operation was done by direct suturing of postero-inferior common bridging leaflet to the ventricular crest while the space under the antero-superior bridging leaflet was closed with a small triangular shaped Dacron patch. No echocardiographic evidence of neomitral valve regurgitation and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction were detected in either early or late postoperative examinations of these patients.