Absence of one atrioventricular connexion--a terminologic problem

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Medical Terminology

Background:

• Congenital heart defects require precise classification for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
• Existing terminology for atrioventricular (AV) connections can be ambiguous in complex cases.

Observation:

• A patient presented with a right-sided heart, normal atrial position, absent right-sided AV connection, and a single aortic outlet from a dominant right ventricle.
• This case illustrates challenges in defining hearts with absent AV connections.

Findings:

• Absence of an atrioventricular connection should be classified by the side of the missing connection, not by the anatomy of the involved atrial or ventricular chambers.
• The concept of concordant or discordant AV connections may simplify classification when one AV connection is absent.

Implications:

• Refined terminology can improve the understanding and communication of complex congenital heart anomalies.
• Standardizing classification aids in clinical decision-making and research in pediatric cardiology.