ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Double-orifice left atrioventricular valve (LAVV) is a rare but surgically important anomaly, which is regarded as a risk factor for surgical correction of atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs). METHODS: Of 209 consecutive patients with AVSDs, double-orifice LAVV was identified in 19 patients (9.1%, including 7 infants). Preoperative LAVV function, surgical procedures and results, incidence of postoperative LAVV dysfunction and reoperations were reviewed and compared between patients with this valve malformation (group I, n = 19) and those without it (group II, n = 190). RESULTS: There were no operative or late deaths in group I. Preoperative LAVV function was similar in both groups. The cleft was totally closed in 77.2% of group II and 47.1% of group I (p < 0.01). In partial AVSDs, freedom from postoperative LAVV insufficiency was 77.0% in group II versus 30.5% in group I at 5 years (p = 0.009) and freedom from reoperation was 89.9% in group II versus 58.3% in group I at 5 years (p = 0.012); however, there was no difference in complete AVSDs. None of the infants in group I underwent total cleft closure and 4 of them showed more than moderate LAVV insufficiency postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Double-orifice LAVV is a significant predictor for postoperative LAVV incompetence and reoperation in partial AVSDs, but not in complete AVSDs. Surgical procedures for the cleft should be individualized with careful intraoperative evaluation of the structure and function of this abnormal valve, especially in partial AVSDs and infants.
