Clinical spectrum, therapeutic management, and follow-up of ventricular tachycardia in infants and young children.
We reviewed 40 infants and young children with VT. Median maximum VT rate was 214 beats/min (range 152 to 375 beats/min). A cause was defined in 20 (50%), the most common being cardiomyopathy or myocarditis in 8 (20%). There were six deaths (15%) related to VT, three of which occurred at diagnosis and in patients less than 1 week old. In 5 of 6 deaths related to VT, a cause was defined. At follow-up, 31 (91%) of 34 survivors did not have VT. The presence of symptoms was a predictor of death related to VT. The outlook for asymptomatic patients and those who survived more than 6 months after diagnosis and who do not have progressive myocardial disease appears good.
Davis
A M
AM
Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Gow
R M
RM
McCrindle
B W
BW
Hamilton
R M
RM
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D015996:Survival Rate; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016276:Ventricular Function; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents