The "goose neck" of the endocardial cushion defect: anatomic basis.

The "goose necku deformity as seen in left ventriculogrruas in the endocardial cushion defect persists after surgical treatment in whkh the subaodc deficiency of the venMcular septum is built up with prosthetic material and the natural mitral valve is replaced by a prosthesis. Anatomic studies indicate that the diaphragmatic (inflow) aspect of the left ventricle and the venMcuhu septum are short relative to the outflow length of the ventricular septum. In addition, there is a deficiency in the subaortic aspect of the ventricular septum. The study suggests that the term "goose neckn deformity fobwing cometion of the deficiency of the ventricular septum appears to be related to the short nature of the inflow part of the left ventricular wall at its diaphragmatic aspect. The study suggests that the term "goose neckn deformity is better replaced by ''goose" deformity, since the deficient posterior wall of the left ventricle outlines the curvature of the back of the "goosen which persists in spite of correction at operation.