Atrioventricular Canal Defect

A healthcare provider can often diagnose an atrioventricular septal defect before birth with a few tests:

• Prenatal ultrasound shows moving pictures of the fetus in the uterus, including its heart. A large septal defect may show up on an ultrasound.
• A fetal echocardiogram creates images of the heart with more detail than an ultrasound. It can give a provider information about the structure of the heart and how well it’s pumping blood.

A provider may use a stethoscope to listen to your baby’s heartbeat after birth. An abnormal “whooshing” sound may mean that blood is flowing through a hole in their septum. Other tests after birth might include:

• Chest X-rays to show the size and shape of your child’s heart.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) to track the electrical activity of your baby’s heart.
• Echocardiogram to look at the structure of your child’s heart in detail.
• Cardiac catheterization to learn more about the severity of your child’s condition.
• Heart MRI to show the parts of your baby’s heart and how well they work.

In some cases, your baby may have a small septal defect that doesn’t cause symptoms right after birth. It might be several years before a healthcare provider detects the condition.