Diagnosis

Atrioventricular canal defect might be detected in a baby before birth using ultrasound and special heart imaging.

After birth, signs and symptoms of complete atrioventricular canal defect are usually noticeable within the first few weeks. When listening to your baby's heart, your doctor might hear an abnormal whooshing sound (heart murmur).

If your baby is having signs and symptoms of atrioventricular canal defect, your doctor might recommend the following tests:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). Electrical signals are recorded as they travel through the heart. Your doctor can look for patterns that show abnormal heart function.
• Echocardiogram. Sound waves are used to create pictures of the heart in motion. An echocardiogram can reveal a hole in the heart, abnormal heart valves and abnormal blood flow through the heart.
• Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray can show an enlarged heart.
• Cardiac catheterization. A thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin and up to the heart. A dye injected through the catheter makes the heart structures show up more clearly on X-rays. The catheter also allows the doctor to measure pressure in the chambers of the heart and in the blood vessels.