[Long-term results of complete atrio-ventricular canal correction]

To assess the prognosis of surgically corrected complete atrio-ventricular canal and determine risk factors for death and redo surgery.

and method: From January 1984 to March 2006, 126 patients were distributed in 3 groups according to their date of intervention: group I (1984-1991), group II (1992-1999) and group III (2000-2006). They were operated at mean age of 8.35 + 13.3 months. Down syndrome was present in 99 patients (79%). A partial or total closure of the left atrio-ventricular valvular cleft was performed in 47 patients (37%).

The in-hospital mortality was at 14.28% (18 patients), including 23.7% in group I, 16.2% in group II and 4.4% in group III (p=0.06). The predictive factors of survival were the Down syndrome (p<0.05) and surgery of the left atrio-ventricular valvular cleft (p=0.05). An early reoperation was required in 6 cases, for a severe leak of this valve (n=4) or an important residual shunt (n=2). After a mean follow-up of 9.5+6.9 years, the survival rate was at 83.6% and 10 patients (9.9%) had a redo surgery for a leak of the left atrio-ventricular valve (n=6) or sub-aortic stenosis (n=4). The rate of no-redo surgery for valve insufficiency was at 94.2% at 5 years, 91.1% at 10 years and 87.6% at 15 years.

The surgical treatment of complete atrio-ventricular canal became more and more efficient with poor rates of mortality and redo surgery during these last years. The closure of the left atrio-ventricular valve cleft, mostly partial, is frequently performed. Patients with the Down syndrome have a better vital prognosis and lower rates of long-term redo surgery.