title: Late cure after radiofrequency catheter ablation in a pediatric patient.
abstract: A 12-year-old female with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome underwent an electrophysiologic study followed by radiofrequency catheter ablation of the left-lateral accessory pathway. After several unsuccessful attempts, the procedure was stopped because of early recurrence of accessory pathway conduction. Twenty-four hours after the procedure, the patient was found without ventricular pre-excitation pattern on the electrocardiogram. During a 12-month follow-up, the Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern was no longer present. A transesophageal electrophysiologic study showed no further tachycardia induction and the patient is still asymptomatic. This report raises the issue that ablation-induced lesions may evolve considerably during the first few days after ablation, leading to either recurrent accessory pathway conduction or long-lasting complete cure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy. berardo.sarubbi@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Berardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarubbi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Alto
authors.forename: Raimondo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calvanese
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calabrò
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014927:Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*