[Radiofrequency catheter ablation for treating children with cardiac arrhythmias: favourable results after a mean of 4 years].
OBJECTIVE
Analysis of long-term results with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RF ablation) in children.


METHODS
Retrospective.


METHODS
Data were analysed from all 118 paediatric patients < or =18 years old who underwent RF ablation at the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), the Netherlands, during the period 1 December 1992-31 May 2004.


RESULTS
The group consisted of 6o boys and 58 girls with a mean age of 12.7 years (SD: 4.6). They underwent 140 RF ablation procedures for 122 disorders. Indications for RF ablation were: failure or side-effects of antiarrhythmic medication (45%), patient/parent choice (45%), cardiomyopathy or life-threatening arrhythmia (8%), and impending surgery for a congenital heart defect (2%). The mean follow-up interval was 4 years (SD: 3.2; range: 1.2 months-11.3 years). The final total success rate for RF was 93% (n = 110). 19 patients (16%) underwent a total of 22 repeat procedures. Recurrences occurred after a mean period of 2.3 months (SD: 2.5) following successful RF ablation. Major complications (2nd degree AV block) occurred in 2 patients. During follow-up, no evidence was found of new arrhythmias or of coronary artery lesion development as the result ofRF ablation. There was no difference between the < 10 years of age group and the > or = 10 years of age group in terms of final success rate (93% vs. 93%; p = 0.914) and complication rate (3% vs. 7%, p = 0.680).


CONCLUSIONS
The long-term outcome of paediatric patients who underwent RF ablation was good. RF ablation in young children (< 10 years) was found to be safe and effective. These results demonstrate that it is also possible to curatively treat this group of patients with RF ablation in specialized centres.
Kolditz
D P
DP
Afd. Kindercardiologie, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC Leiden.
Blom
N A
NA
Bökenkamp
R
R
Bootsma
M
M
Zeppenfeld
K
K
Schalij
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome