Use of a prosthesis for repair of complete common atrioventricular canal.

From April, 1977 to November, 1979, 5 cases with common atrioventricular canal (Rastelli C-type) underwent surgery, in which the leaflets of both the mitral and tricuspid valves were extended using an auto-pericardium patch in order to control regurgitation. Their ages ranged from one year 3 months to 6 years (mean, 3 years 7 months). One case died on the 37th postoperative day from intracranial bleeding unrelated to the cardiac procedure. In the remaining 4 cases, postoperative examination showed an improvement, and their clinical courses which were followed from 2 years 7 months to 5 years 3 months, were favourable, with only minimal valvular regurgitation remaining in all cases. Although the fate of the pericardium patch must be followed over a long period, this procedure appears to be effective for control of regurgitation in this disease.