Atrial septal defect ostium primum


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org]; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]

For a full discussion on atrial septal defects click here.

Overview
An ostium primum defect or endocardial cushion defect usually occurs due to the failure in fusion of the septum primum with the endocardial cushion. This defect is commonly associated with other cardiac anomalies in the septum such as ventricular septal defect and atrioventricular septal defect.The abnormalities of the atrioventricular valves include the cleft mitral valve, and the single atrioventricular valve (a single large, deformed valve that flows into both the right ventricle and the left ventricle).

Surgical Closure

 * Surgical closure is more complicated compared to other atrial septal defect repair.
 * Patch should be attached to the septum at the juncture of the mitral and tricuspid valves.
 * Mitral valve repair, closure of the cleft mitral leaflet, annuloplasty and mitral valve replacement may be required to repair mitral insufficiency.