Complete atrioventricular canal: current surgical technique.

The technique we currently use for repair of complete atrioventricular canal requires 2 separate patches for closure of the atrial and ventricular portion of the defect. The common AV valve is left undivided and is sandwiched between these 2 patches. The cleft in the anterior mitral leaflet is left unsutured to create a trileaflet mitral valve. This technique has been employed in 10 patients (Type C: 9 patients; Type A: one patient; ages: 6 months to 4 1/2 years).