title: [Radiofrequency treatment of tachyarrhythmias in children and adolescents].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiofrequency ablation has been extensively used in adults to treat supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia. In children and adolescents few data are available on its safety and efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  28 patients (mean age 12.8) with symptomatic tachyarrhythmias underwent catheter ablation; 21 children had atrioventricular accessory pathways (11 right connections, 9 lef connections and one midseptal pathway), 3 had intranodal tachycardia, 2 had ventricular tachycardia and 2 had atrial tachycardia. Only four patients had associated structural anomalies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Success rate was 71.4% (20 patients). The success per cents in each group were: in intranodal tachycardias 100%; we failed in the two patients with ventricular tachycardias; in accessory pathways 76.1% and 50% in atrial tachycardia. There were no recurrences of arrhythmia in a mean chase period of 24 months (12-46). Major complications were only observed in one patient who developed a Wallenberg syndrome after ablation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiofrequency catheter ablation appears to be a safe and effective method to treat arrhythmias in children and adolescents, which in most cases can supersede surgery. Alow incidence of complications is reported, although long term damage on endocardial structures remains yet to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Monedero
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Alvaro
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Villacastín
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Maíz
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Argüelles
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Garrote
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery
vernacular_title: Tratamiento con radiofrecuencia de taquiarritmias en 28 niños y adolescentes.