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Long-Term Care and Outlook

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Most children lead active, healthy lives after CAVSD repair, but the condition requires lifelong monitoring by a cardiologist. Regular checkups are essential to catch potential long-term complications like leaky valves, heart rhythm issues, or narrowed pathways early.

Key Takeaways

  • • Children who undergo CAVSD repair generally lead active lives but require lifelong monitoring from a pediatric cardiologist.
  • • The most common long-term complication is a leaky valve (LAVVR), which may eventually require a second surgery.
  • • Patients usually need to take antibiotics before dental procedures to prevent endocarditis, an infection of the heart's inner lining.
  • • Yearly or biennial cardiology checkups will typically include an echocardiogram, EKG, and physical exam to monitor the heart's function and rhythm.
  • • Children with Down syndrome are less likely to develop severe valve leaks requiring a second surgery compared to other children with CAVSD.

For the vast majority of children, life after Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect (CAVSD) repair is full of typical milestones—playing sports, attending school, and growing into healthy adults [1]. However, a repaired heart is not a “cured” heart. It requires lifelong monitoring to ensure that the reconstructed valves and chambers continue to function well as the child grows [2][3].

Managing the Most Common Complication: LAVVR

The most frequent long-term challenge after CAVSD surgery is Left Atrioventricular Valve Regurgitation (LAVVR) [3][4]. This occurs when the newly reconstructed valve on the left side of the heart (the mitral valve) does not close tightly, allowing blood to leak backward [5].

  • Why it happens: During surgery, doctors have to “split” the one large valve into two and sew it together. This original repair site (sometimes referred to by doctors as the “cleft”) can stretch or begin to pull apart slightly as the child grows, causing a leak [6].
  • Positive Outcomes for Children with Down Syndrome: Research has shown that children with Down syndrome are actually less likely to develop severe valve leaks requiring another surgery compared to children without the syndrome [7][8].
  • Next Steps: If a leak becomes moderate or severe, a second surgery may be needed to “tune up” or repair the valve again [6][9].

Protecting the Heart: Endocarditis Risk

Because your child’s heart has been repaired with surgical patches, they have a slightly higher risk of developing an infection in the inner lining of the heart, known as endocarditis.

  • To prevent this, your cardiologist will likely recommend antibiotic prophylaxis. This means your child will need to take a dose of oral antibiotics roughly an hour before going to the dentist for cleanings or dental procedures, as bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart.

Monitoring Heart Rhythm

Because the initial surgery involves placing patches very close to the heart’s electrical center, some children develop rhythm issues over time [10].

  • Heart Block: This occurs when the electrical signal that tells the heart to beat is delayed or interrupted [11].
  • Pacemakers: While rare in the long term, some patients may eventually need a pacemaker to ensure their heart maintains a steady, healthy rhythm [10].

Watching for Narrowed Pathways

In some cases, the area just below the aortic valve (the main “exit” from the heart to the body) can become narrow. This is known as subaortic stenosis [12]. It happens because the anatomy of a CAVSD heart is naturally a bit “crowded” in that area. If this narrowing becomes significant, it makes the heart work harder to push blood out and may require a surgical procedure to clear the pathway [9][13].

What to Expect at Yearly Checkups

Even if your child feels perfectly healthy and has excellent exercise tolerance, seeing a pediatric cardiologist (and eventually an Adult Congenital Heart Disease specialist) is essential [2]. These visits usually occur every 1 to 2 years and include:

  1. Echocardiogram: A heart ultrasound to check for valve leaks or narrowing [1].
  2. Electrocardiogram (EKG): A quick, painless test to monitor the heart’s electrical rhythm [10].
  3. Physical Exam: The doctor will listen for new or changing heart murmurs, check pulses, and assess how well your child is growing [14].

By staying consistent with these checkups, you and your medical team can catch any small changes early, ensuring your child’s heart remains strong for a lifetime [15][16].

Frequently Asked Questions

Do children with CAVSD need to take antibiotics before going to the dentist?
Yes, children who have had CAVSD repair surgery generally have a slightly higher risk of endocarditis, an infection of the heart lining. Cardiologists usually recommend taking an oral antibiotic about an hour before dental cleanings or procedures to prevent bacteria from reaching the heart.
What is the most common long-term complication after CAVSD surgery?
The most frequent long-term challenge is Left Atrioventricular Valve Regurgitation (LAVVR), which is a leaky mitral valve. As the child grows, the surgically repaired valve can stretch, sometimes requiring a second surgery to fix the leak.
Can my child play sports after recovering from CAVSD surgery?
The vast majority of children can lead fully active lives, attend school, and play sports after recovering from CAVSD repair. Your pediatric cardiologist will provide specific activity guidelines during your yearly checkups based on how well your child's heart is functioning.
How often does a child need to see a cardiologist after CAVSD repair?
Even if your child feels perfectly healthy, they will typically need to see a pediatric cardiologist every one to two years. These visits usually include an echocardiogram, an EKG, and a physical exam to monitor heart rhythms and valve function.
Will my child need a pacemaker after CAVSD surgery?
While it is rare in the long term, some children develop heart rhythm issues such as heart block because the surgical patches are placed near the heart's electrical center. In these cases, a pacemaker may eventually be needed to maintain a steady heart rate.

Questions for Your Doctor

  • • What is the current grade of my child's left atrioventricular valve (LAVV) regurgitation?
  • • How often do you recommend echocardiograms and EKG monitoring at this stage in my child's life?
  • • Does my child need to take antibiotics before dental visits (endocarditis prophylaxis)?
  • • What specific signs of heart rhythm changes or valve leaks should I be looking for at home?
  • • Are there any physical activities or sports my child should avoid, or can they lead a fully active life?

Questions for You

  • • Am I keeping a log of my child's energy levels and exercise tolerance as they get older?
  • • How can I help my child understand the importance of their lifelong heart checkups?
  • • Do I have a copy of my child's surgical report and most recent echocardiogram to share with future healthcare providers or schools?

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References

  1. 1

    Long-Term Outcome Up To 40 Years after Single Patch Repair of Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect in Infancy or Childhood.

    Reynen S, Hövels-Gürich HH, Vazquez-Jimenez JF, et al.

    The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon 2021; (69(S 03)):e68-e75 doi:10.1055/s-0041-1740070.

    PMID: 34953470
  2. 2

    Edwards Sapien 3 transcatheter aortic valve implantation for management of severe aortic regurgitation in a teenage patient with corrected atrioventricular septal defect and progressive left ventricular dysfunction.

    Lehner A, Herrmann FE, Mehilli J, Haas NA

    Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions 2019; (93(4)):E244-E247 doi:10.1002/ccd.27975.

    PMID: 30461164
  3. 3

    Repair of the complete atrioventricular septal defect-impact of postoperative moderate or more regurgitation.

    Ozturk M, Tongut A, Sterzbecher V, et al.

    Interdisciplinary cardiovascular and thoracic surgery 2024; (38(4)) doi:10.1093/icvts/ivae053.

    PMID: 38569897
  4. 4

    Left Atrioventricular Valve Regurgitation After Atrioventricular Septal Defect Repair.

    Selcuk A, Spurney C, Ozturk M, et al.

    The Annals of thoracic surgery 2025; (119(1)):160-168 doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2024.07.014.

    PMID: 39067630
  5. 5

    Surgical repair of atrioventricular septal defects: incidence and mode of failure of the left atrioventricular valve.

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    Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery 2018; (27(1)):42-47 doi:10.1093/icvts/ivy023.

    PMID: 29425297
  6. 6

    Surgical Outcomes in Children With Partial and Transitional Atrioventricular Septal Defect.

    Nakayama Y, Shinkawa T, Hoki R, et al.

    World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery 2022; (13(4)):451-457 doi:10.1177/21501351221100140.

    PMID: 35757952
  7. 7

    The Fate of the Left Atrioventricular Valve After Atrioventricular Septal Defect Repair: Long-Term Outcomes.

    O'Connor M, Stauber CE, Venardos NM, et al.

    Pediatric cardiology 2026; (47(3)):941-949 doi:10.1007/s00246-025-03860-2.

    PMID: 40208292
  8. 8

    Factors associated with moderate or severe left atrioventricular valve regurgitation within 30 days of repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect.

    Kozak MF, Kozak AC, Marchi CH, et al.

    Revista brasileira de cirurgia cardiovascular : orgao oficial da Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular 2015; (30(3)):304-10.

    PMID: 26313720
  9. 9

    Long-term outcome after early repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect in young infants.

    Ramgren JJ, Nozohoor S, Zindovic I, et al.

    The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2021; (161(6)):2145-2153 doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.08.015.

    PMID: 32919770
  10. 10

    Dysrhythmias in patients with a complete atrioventricular septal defect: From surgery to early adulthood.

    Houck CA, Evertz R, Teuwen CP, et al.

    Congenital heart disease 2019; (14(2)):280-287 doi:10.1111/chd.12724.

    PMID: 30485659
  11. 11

    Incidence and risk factors of post-operative arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death after atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) correction: Up to 47years of follow-up.

    Kharbanda RK, Blom NA, Hazekamp MG, et al.

    International journal of cardiology 2018; (252()):88-93 doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.09.209.

    PMID: 29249442
  12. 12

    Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction after repair of atrioventricular septal defect.

    Buratto E, Konstantinov IE

    JTCVS open 2024; (17()):257 doi:10.1016/j.xjon.2023.06.009.

    PMID: 38420562
  13. 13

    Complete atrioventricular septal defect repair in Australia: Results over 25 years.

    Fong LS, Betts K, Bell D, et al.

    The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2020; (159(3)):1014-1025.e8 doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.08.005.

    PMID: 31590953
  14. 14

    Repair of complete atrioventricular canal defects: Early and midterm results and comparison of the left anterior leaflet augmentation technique with traditional technics.

    Basgoze S, Yildiz O, Ozturk E, Onan IS

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    PMID: 33955056
  15. 15

    Technical Performance Score: Predictor of Outcomes in Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect Repair.

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    PMID: 28648535
  16. 16

    Atrioventricular Valve Function Predicts Reintervention in Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect.

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    PMID: 32093554

This page provides general information about long-term care after CAVSD surgery. It is not medical advice; always discuss your child's specific monitoring and activity guidelines with their pediatric cardiologist.

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