title: Postinfarction ventricular arrhythmias in children.
abstract: Because limited information is available on significant arrhythmias after myocardial infarction in pediatric patients, this study was performed to determine the incidence and impact of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation on the postinfarction course in patients aged 1 day to 16 years. Review of 96 such children showed a wide range of underlying heart disease (56 patients with congenital heart disease, 12 with cardiomyopathy, and 28 with acquired heart disease). Postinfarction ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation occurred commonly (28% of patients with acute myocardial infarction) and early (84% by 2 days after diagnosis). Postinfarction mortality was high in patients with acute myocardial infarction (61%) and appeared to be independent of type of associated heart disease. Ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation was associated with higher mortality rates (approximately 80%) in patients with acute or remote myocardial infarction. The 61 postinfarction survivors were monitored for an average of 4.9 years, and none had significant recurrent ventricular arrhythmias or late sudden death.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Johnsrude
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Towbin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cecchin
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents