title: Paired ventricular pacing: an alternative therapy for postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia in congenital heart disease.
abstract: Junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) is one of the most life-threatening postoperative arrhythmias in children with congenital heart disease, and medical management is difficult. Paired ventricular pacing (PVP) may provide a safe alternative mode of management. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of PVP for the management of postoperative JET in patients with congenital heart disease. A retrospective collection of data was done from 1981-1995. PVP was successfully tried in five postoperative patients (age range: 37 days to 22 years, median: 10 months). Onset of JET was 3-60 hours (mean +/- SD, 19 +/- 23 hours) postoperatively. The maximal JET rate was 261 +/- 39 beats/min. PVP was used as the first line of management in three patients and was successful in all patients. It resulted in an instantaneous increase in blood pressure from 66 +/- 9 to 94 +/- 15 mmHg (42% increase) and was required for 12 +/- 14 hours (range 2-36 hours). No complications were noted. Therefore, in our experience, this is a safe alternative modality for the control of postoperative JET.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami, Florida 33101, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Perryman
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Wolff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013613:Tachycardia, Ectopic Junctional / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*