Tachycardias in infants, children and adolescents: safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency catheter ablation.
Radiofrequency catheter ablations provide an effective control of a variety of supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias in adults. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablations in infants, children and adolescents. Ninty-three ablations were performed in 84 patients ranging from 5 months to 18 years of age. All but 1 patient were successfully treated (98.8%). Two patients required 1 and 2 additional attempts to achieve success. Tachyarrhythmic episodes recurred in 4 patients within 1-5 months after ablation, which were successfully treated by repeating the intervention. Significant complications occurred in 3 of the ablations (3.2%). Although radiofrequency ablations are very effective and safe in pediatric patients, indications should be restricted in patients younger than 4 years because of a higher risk of possibly life-threatening complications.
Lee
S J
SJ
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Heart Center, Gil Medical Center, Gachon Medical School, Inchon, Korea. LSJ@ghil.com
Schueller
W C
WC
D000293:Adolescent; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome