Transcatheter cryotherapy for the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias in children: a single center experience.
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.
Papez
Andrew L
AL
University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Al-Ahdab
Mohamad
M
Dick
Macdonald
M
Fischbach
Peter S
PS
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