Abstract
Partial atrio-ventricular canal is usually symptomatic and treated surgically in a childhood. In the literature, only eight cases have been operated on over fifty years of age. We experienced two cases of partial atrio-ventricular canal; one was 63-year-old female and the other was 67-year-old male. The female patient showed rapid increase of the pulmonary pressure during the last three years. The male patient had moderate mitral regurgitation with mild pulmonary hypertention. Although the repair of the mitral valve was successful in the female patient, it was difficult in the male patient because of massive calcification along the edges of the mitral cleft. Blood biochemistry data revealed the liver cirrhosis due to congestion in the male patient. Because of poor tolerance of the viscera in aged patients, it is quite important not to raise the central venous pressure more than 15cmH2O at the cessation of the cardio-pulmonary bypass. Over-hydration may cause congestive heart failure easily, and take into vicious cycle. Of course early operation is better, these two cases, however, had uneventful course and resumed active life early in their postoperative days. Results of them encouraged us to treat aged patient of partial atrio-ventricular canal surgically.
