Secondary left atrioventricular valve replacement in atrioventricular septal (AV canal) defect: a method to avoid left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

Patients with atrioventricular septal defects are morphologically predisposed to subaortic obstruction. Some individuals require secondary left atrioventricular valve replacement for severe incompetence persisting after repair, and they are especially susceptible to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. A surgical technique is described for replacement of the atrioventricular valve which seems to avoid the complication of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction by the prosthesis.