Endocardial cushion defect or also known as atrioventricular canal defect is a combination of several abnormalities in the heart that is congenital. In this condition, a hole between the chambers of the heart is present. There are also problems with the valves that regulate blood flow in the heart. The condition is also called atriventicular septal defect. There are two common types of atrioventricular canal defect. The fist one is partial, which means that only the two upper chambers of the heart are involved. The other one is called the complete form, which allows the blood to travel freely among all chambers but also lets extra blood circulate to the lungs, causing the heart to enlarge.

Tests that may be performed in the diagnosis of ASD include chest x-ray, echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, Doppler study of the heart, coronary angiography, cardiac catherization, MRI of the heart, and ECG.

If the defect is small or there are few or no symptoms, the condition may not require treatment. Surgical closure of the defect is only recommended if the atrial septal defect is large, the heart is enlarged, or symptoms occur. There is a relatively new procedure developed to close the defect without surgery. It involves the introduction of an ASD closure device into the heart through catheters. An example of this device is called Amplatzer. Only a tiny incision is done in the groin to introduce the catheters. The catheters are then advanced to the heart where the closure device is placed across the ASD. Not all ASD patients are eligible for this kind of procedure however.Q

For complete atrioventricular canal defect, signs and symptoms usually develop in the first several weeks of life. Among the symptoms are difficulty in breathing (dyspnea), lack of appetite, poor weight gain, and bluish discoloration of the lips and skin (cyanosis). Symptoms for the complete type of endocardial cushion effect include fatigue and wekness, persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm, swelling or edema, sudden weight gain from fluid retention, decreased alertness, and irregular or rapid heartbeat. Abnormal heart rhythm, congestive heart failure, and high blood pressure in the lungs are among the symptoms for the partial type. They usually occur in the 20s and 30s since they are usually related to complications that develop because of the condition.

In the partial type, a hole exists in the wall (septum) that separates the upper chambers (atria). The mitral valve between the upper and lower left chambers does not close completely (mitral valve regurgitation). In the complete type meanwhile, there's a large hole in the center of the heart where the walls between the upper chambers (atria) and lower chambers (ventricles) meet. Instead of two separate valves, there is only one common valve existing for both chambers and the said valve often doesn't close tightly.

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