Parent Information

Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD)

The heart is split into four parts. Two collecting chambers at the top called Atria and two pumping chambers at the bottom called Ventricles. These four chambers are divided by a horizontal barrier called the Fibrous Skeleton and a vertical wall called the Septum. These meet in the middle like the cross in the centre of a hot cross bun. An Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is where this crucial centre is missing. This results in a hole between the top two chambers and the bottom two chambers. An atrial septal defect is a therefore a hole between the two top chambers - the atria. There should not normally be a hole in this position as it allows blood to mix between the atria which should normally be separated. This is a reasonably common heart defect and often not to serious so don't be suprised if cardiologist does not hurry to to close the hole (with surgery or with a catheter in some cases).