Cardiomyopathy and the use of implanted cardio-defibrillators in children.
Children and adults with cardiomyopathy and ventricular dysrhythmias have a uniformly poor prognosis, despite medical therapy. The use of automatic implantable cardio-defibrillators in adult patients with medically resistant ventricular dysrhythmias has resulted in a positive impact on survival. Because of its size and former lack of programmability, the device has been used rarely in children. Four patients with cardiomyopathy, in whom refractory ventricular dysrhythmias were managed with automatic implantable cardio-defibrillators, are presented. Two of these children are the youngest and smallest known in whom the device has been used; one of them received the first programmable model. The use of the automatic implantable cardio-defibrillator may enhance survival in selected young patients.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33101.
S J
SJ
Kaminer
A S
AS
Pickoff
A
A
Dunnigan
R
R
Sterba
G S
GS
Wolff
D000293:Adolescent; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*