title: Neonatal radiofrequency catheter ablation of junctional tachycardias.
abstract: Junctional tachycardias comprise several arrhythmia types with differing mechanisms, principally involving the region of the atrioventricular (A-V) junction. Neonatal radiofrequency catheter ablation has typically been reserved for life-threatening, drug-refractory cases due to the unique concerns regarding patient size and development. We performed radiofrequency catheter ablation on two neonates with incessant, rapid junctional tachycardias and hemodynamic compromise after failing conventional medical therapy. This report describes 2 neonates who underwent emergent radiofrequency catheter ablation, and compares these two patients to a larger pediatric catheter ablation patient cohort. Both neonates had an acutely successful outcome and were able to be discharged within a week of the ablation procedure. Fluoroscopy time and total procedure time were shorter in these two patients than in the course of the average pediatric catheter ablation. Though long-term developmental consequences of neonatal catheter ablation are yet unknown, in unique extreme situations, radiofrequency catheter ablation can be performed in neonates, as in older children and adults, without excessive acute morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Boston Floating Hospital for Children-New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, MA, USA. berul@cardio.tch.harvard.edu
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Berul
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Estes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013613:Tachycardia, Ectopic Junctional / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents