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Endocardial cushion defect medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

The management of endocardial cushion defect depends upon the type of defect, underlying etiology and associated cardiac conditions. Surgical correction of defective valve holds the the mainstay of treatment for endocardial cushion. Medical management provides supportive care in preparing the patient for surgery.

Medical Therapy

The management of endocardial cushion defect depends upon the type of defect, underlying etiology and associated cardiac conditions. Surgical correction of defective valve holds the the mainstay of treatment for endocardial cushion. The goal of medical management is to improve cardiac function as a prerequisite for surgery.

Medical management of endocardial cushion defect includes:[1][2]

Medications Mechanism of Action Drugs
Diuretics To reduce volume overload and pulmonary congestion
  • Loop (eg, furosemide)
  • Thiazide diuretics
Inotropic agents To improve myocardial contractility
  • Digoxin
ACE inhibitors
  • To reduce afterload
  • Decreasing left-to-right shunting
  • Lisinopril

Nutritional Support

  • Caloric supplementation is often needed in patients with poor feeding and failure to thrive.


References

  1. Craig B (December 2006). “Atrioventricular septal defect: from fetus to adult”. Heart. 92 (12): 1879–85. doi:10.1136/hrt.2006.093344. PMC 1861295. PMID 17105897.
  2. Backer CL, Stewart RD, Mavroudis C (2007). “What is the best technique for repair of complete atrioventricular canal?”. Semin. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 19 (3): 249–57. doi:10.1053/j.semtcvs.2007.07.006. PMID 17983953.

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