TY - EJOU
AU - Houck, Charlotte A.
AU - Evertz, Reinder
AU - Teuwen, Christophe P.
AU - Roos‐Hesselink, Jolien W.
AU - Kammeraad, Janneke A. E.
AU - Duijnhouwer, Anthonie L.
AU - Groot, Natasja M. S. de
AU - Bogers, Ad J. J. C.
TI - Dysrhythmias in patients with a complete atrioventricular septal defect: From surgery to early adulthood
T2 - Congenital Heart Disease
PY - 2019
VL - 14
IS - 2
SN - 1747-0803
AB - Objective: Outcomes after surgical repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect
(cAVSD) have improved. With advancing age, the risk of development of dysrhythmias
may increase. The aims of this study were to (1) examine development of sinus node
dysfunction (SND), atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and (2) study progression of
atrioventricular conduction abnormalities in young adult patients with repaired cAVSD.
Study design: In this retrospective multicenter study, 74 patients (68% female) with a
cAVSD repaired in childhood were included. Patients’ medical files were evaluated
for occurrence of SND, atrioventricular conduction block (AVB), atrial and ventricular
tachyarrhythmias.
Results: Median age at repair was 6 months (interquartile range 3‐10) and median age
at last follow‐up was 24 years (interquartile range 21‐28). SND occurred after a me‐
dian of 17 years (interquartile range 11‐19) after repair in 23% of patients, requiring
pacemaker implantation in two patients (12%). Regular supraventricular tachycardia
was observed in three patients (4%). Atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachyarrhyth‐
mias were not observed. Twenty‐seven patients (36%) had first‐degree AVB, which
was self‐limiting in 16 (59%) and persistent in 10 (37%) patients. One patient devel‐
oped third‐degree AVB 7 days after left atrioventricular valve replacement.
Spontaneous type II second‐degree AVB occurred in a 28‐year‐old patient. Both pa‐
tients underwent pacemaker implantation.
Conclusions: Clinically significant dysrhythmias were uncommon in young adult pa‐
tients after cAVSD repair. However, three patients required pacemaker implantation
for either progression of SND or spontaneous type II second‐degree AVB. Longer
follow‐up should point out whether dysrhythmias will progress or become more
prevalent with increasing age.
KW - adult congenital heart disease
KW - atrial tachyarrhythmias
KW - atrioventricular conduction block
KW - complete atrioventricular septal defect
KW - sinus node dysfunction
DO - 10.1111/chd.12724