Fatal pneumonia complicating hypothermia for the treatment of postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia.
A 5-month-old male infant developed junctional ectopic tachycardia after surgical repair for ventricular septal defect. Management with sotalol and moderate hypothermia was initially successful, but he died from Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. The safety of treatment with hypothermia is discussed.
Matthys
D
D
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Gent, Belgium.
Verhaaren
H
H
Deryck
Y
Y
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D013015:Sotalol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013613:Tachycardia, Ectopic Junctional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013015:Sotalol