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Endocardial cushion defect

Atrioventricular (AV) canal defect; Atrioventricular septal defect; AVSD; Common AV orifice; Ostium primum atrial septal defects; Congenital heart defect - ECD; Birth defect - ECD; Cyanotic disease - ECD

 

Endocardial cushion defect (ECD) is an abnormal heart condition. The walls separating all 4 chambers of the heart are poorly formed or absent. Also, the valves separating the upper and lower chambers of the heart have defects during formation. ECD is a congenital heart disease , which means it is present from birth.

Causes

 

ECD occurs while a baby is still growing in the womb. The endocardial cushions are two thicker areas that develop into the walls (septum) that divide the 4 chambers of the heart. They also form the mitral and tricuspid valves. These are the valves that separate the atria (top collecting chambers) from the ventricles (bottom pumping chambers).

The lack of separation between the two sides of the heart causes several problems:

  • Increased blood flow to the lungs. This results in increased pressure in the lungs. In ECD, blood flows through the abnormal openings from the left to the right side of the heart, then to the lungs. More blood flow into the lungs makes the blood pressure in the lungs rise.
  • Heart failure . The extra effort needed to pump makes the heart work harder than normal. The heart muscle may enlarge and weaken. This can cause swelling in the baby, problems in breathing, and difficulty in feeding and growing.
  • Cyanosis . As the blood pressure increases in the lungs, blood starts to flow from the right side of the heart to the left. The oxygen-poor blood mixes with the oxygen-rich blood. As a result, blood with less oxygen than usual is pumped out to the body. This causes cyanosis, or bluish skin.

There are two types of ECD:

  • Complete ECD. This condition involves an atrial septal defect (ASD) and a ventricular septal defect (VSD). People with a complete ECD have only one large heart valve (common AV valve) instead of two distinct valves (mitral and tricuspid).
  • Partial (or incomplete) ECD. In this condition, only an ASD, or an ASD and VSD are present. There are two distinct valves, but one of them (the mitral valve) is often abnormal with an opening ("cleft") in it. This defect can leak blood back through the valve.

ECD is strongly linked to Down syndrome . Several gene changes are also linked to ECD. However, the exact cause of ECD is unknown.

ECD may be associated with other congenital heart defects, such as:

  • Double outlet right ventricle
  • Single ventricle
  • Transposition of the great vessels
  • Tetralogy of Fallot

 

Symptoms

 

Symptoms of ECD may include:

  • Baby tires easily
  • Bluish skin color, also known as cyanosis (the lips may also be blue)
  • Feeding difficulties
  • Failure to gain weight and grow
  • Frequent pneumonia or infections 
  • Pale skin (pallor)
  • Rapid breathing
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Sweating
  • Swollen legs or abdomen (rare in children)
  • Trouble breathing, especially during feeding

 

Exams and Tests

 

During an exam, the health care provider will likely find signs of ECD, including:

  • An abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • An enlarged heart
  • Heart murmur

Children with partial ECD may not have signs or symptoms of the disorder during childhood.

Tests to diagnose ECD include:

  • Echocardiogram , which is an ultrasound that views the heart structures and blood flow inside the heart
  • Electrocardiogram ( ECG ), which measures the electrical activity of the heart
  • Chest x-ray
  • MRI , which provides a detailed image of the heart
  • Cardiac catheterization , a procedure in which a thin tube (catheter) is placed into the heart to see blood flow and take accurate measurements of blood pressure and oxygen levels

 

Treatment

 

Surgery is needed to close the holes between the heart chambers, and to create distinct tricuspid and mitral valves. The timing of the surgery depends on the child's condition and the severity of the ECD. It can often be done when the baby is 3 to 6 months old. Correcting an ECD may require more than one surgery.

Your child's doctor may prescribe medicine:

  • To treat the symptoms of heart failure
  • Before surgery if ECD has made your baby very sick

The medicines will help your child gain weight and strength before surgery. Medicines often used include:

  • Diuretics (water pills)
  • Drugs that make the heart contract more forcefully, such as digoxin

Surgery for a complete ECD should be done in the baby's first year of life. Otherwise, lung damage that may not be able to be reversed can occur. Babies with Down syndrome tend to develop lung disease earlier. Therefore, early surgery is very important for these babies.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

How well your baby does depends on:

  • The severity of the ECD
  • The child's overall health
  • Whether lung disease has already developed

Many children live normal, active lives after ECD is corrected.

 

Possible Complications

 

Complications from ECD may include:

  • Congestive heart failure
  • Death
  • Eisenmenger syndrome
  • High blood pressure in the lungs
  • Irreversible damage to the lungs

Certain complications of ECD surgery may not appear until the child is an adult. These include heart rhythm problems and a leaky mitral valve.

Children with ECD may be at risk for infection of the heart ( endocarditis ) before and after surgery. Ask your child's doctor whether your child needs to take antibiotics before certain dental procedures.

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Call your child's provider if your child:

  • Tires easily
  • Has trouble breathing
  • Has bluish skin or lips

Also talk to the provider if your baby is not growing or gaining weight.

 

Prevention

 

ECD is linked with several genetic abnormalities. Couples with a family history of ECD may wish to seek genetic counseling before becoming pregnant.

 

 

Open References

References

Bope ET, Kellerman RD. The cardiovascular system. In: Bope ET, Kellerman RD, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2016 . Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 7.

Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF. Acyanotic congenital heart disease. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 426.

Kouchoukos NT, Blackstone EH, Hanley FL, Kirklin JK. Atrioventricular septal defect. In: Kouchoukos NT, Blackstone EH, Hanley FL, Kirklin JK, eds. Kirklin/Barratt-Boyes Cardiac Surgery . 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 34.

Robinson JD, Rigsby CK, Thakrar D. Septal defects. In: Coley BD, ed. Caffey's Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging . 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 73.

 
  • Congenital heart defect overview

    Congenital heart defect overview

    Animation

    •  

    Congenital heart defect overview - Animation

    Facts, causes, and treatment of congenital heart defects.

  • Ventricular septal defect

    Ventricular septal defect - illustration

    Ventricular septal defect is a congenital defect of the heart, that occurs as an abnormal opening in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles. Ventricular septal defect may also be associated with other heart defects. Many small defects will close on their own. For those defects that do not spontaneously close, the outcome is good with surgical repair.

    Ventricular septal defect

    illustration

  • Atrial septal defect

    Atrial septal defect - illustration

    An atrial septal defect is a congenital heart defect where the wall between the right and left atria does not close properly, leaving a hole between the two atria.

    Atrial septal defect

    illustration

  • Atrioventricular canal (endocardial cushion defect)

    Atrioventricular canal (endocardial cushion defect) - illustration

    Endocardial cushion defect is an abnormal heart condition which occurs during the development of the baby. In this condition there is no separation between the chambers of the heart. Without the separation, oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood mix causing the heart to work harder. Endocardial cushion defect is strongly associated with several genetic abnormalities.

    Atrioventricular canal (endocardial cushion defect)

    illustration

  • Congenital heart defect overview

    Animation

    •  

    Congenital heart defect overview - Animation

    Facts, causes, and treatment of congenital heart defects.

  • Ventricular septal defect

    Ventricular septal defect - illustration

    Ventricular septal defect is a congenital defect of the heart, that occurs as an abnormal opening in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles. Ventricular septal defect may also be associated with other heart defects. Many small defects will close on their own. For those defects that do not spontaneously close, the outcome is good with surgical repair.

    Ventricular septal defect

    illustration

  • Atrial septal defect

    Atrial septal defect - illustration

    An atrial septal defect is a congenital heart defect where the wall between the right and left atria does not close properly, leaving a hole between the two atria.

    Atrial septal defect

    illustration

  • Atrioventricular canal (endocardial cushion defect)

    Atrioventricular canal (endocardial cushion defect) - illustration

    Endocardial cushion defect is an abnormal heart condition which occurs during the development of the baby. In this condition there is no separation between the chambers of the heart. Without the separation, oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood mix causing the heart to work harder. Endocardial cushion defect is strongly associated with several genetic abnormalities.

    Atrioventricular canal (endocardial cushion defect)

    illustration

A Closer Look

 

    Self Care

     
       

      Review Date: 5/6/2016

      Reviewed By: Scott I. Aydin, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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