Reoperation after repair of atrioventricular canal defects.

Late events requiring reoperation after atrioventricular canal defect are most commonly related to failure of the repair of the mitral component of the common atrioventricular valve. The need for reoperation also occurs with new developments in the left ventricular outflow tract in the form of subaortic stenosis, particularly in patients with partial atrioventricular canal. Reoperations for other reasons in the population of operated patients with atrioventricular canal defects are rare events. Copyright 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company