title: Transcatheter cryotherapy for the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias in children: a single center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transcatheter cryotherapy is an emerging technology for the treatment of children with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Limited data exist regarding the use of cryoablation therapy in children. We report a single center's experience with transcatheter cryoablation in the pediatric population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A retrospective review of demographic, procedural and outcome data was performed for patients undergoing cryoablation for treatment of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). A historical control group was taken from the 3 years preceding the introduction of cryoablation. Between August 2003 and November 2005, 83 cryoablation procedures were performed in 81 patients (age: 4 to 21 years, mean: 13.4 years) for AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT--53), AV reentrant tachycardia (AVRT--20), ectopic atrial tachycardia (EAT--9), and junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET--1). The acute success rate for all procedures was 88% (AVNRT: 96%, AVRT: 85%, EAT: 55%, and JET: 100%). Of 72 patients that underwent successful cryoablation, nine experienced recurrence of SVT (12.5%). The control group consisted of 73 patients (AVNRT--60, AVRT--13). There were no differences in demographic data between the two groups. The overall success rate for the RFA group (96%) was identical to that for patients with AVNRT and AVRT undergoing cryoablation. The recurrence rate for RFA (10%) was less but not significantly different than that for cryoablation (12%). There were no complications in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cryoablation is a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of SVT in children.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Papez
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Ahdab
authors.forename: Macdonald
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Fischbach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome