title: The results of radiofrequency catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation represents a major advance in the management of children with cardiac arrhythmias and has rapidly become the standard of care for the first-ling therapy of supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the results of the RF catheter ablation of SVTs in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 1989 to August 2005, a total of 228 pediatric patients (age: 9 +/- 7 years, range: 5-18 years; male:female = 117:111) with clinically documented SVT underwent an electrophysiologic study and RF catheter ablation at our institution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The arrhythmias included atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT; n = 140, 61%), atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT; n = 66, 29%), atrial tachycardia (AT; n = 11, 5%), and atrial flutter (AFL; n = 11, 5%). The success rate of the RF catheter ablation was 92% for AVRT, 97% for AVNRT, 82% for AT, and 91% for AFL, respectively. Procedure-related complications were infrequent (8.7%; major complications: high grade AV block (2/231, 0.9%); minor complications: first degree AV block (6/231, 2.6%), reversible brachial plexus injury (2/231, 0.9%), and local hematomas or bruises (10/231, 4.3%)). The recurrence rate was 4.7% (10/212) during a follow-up period of 86 +/- 38 months (0.5-185 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RF catheter ablation was a safe and effective method to manage children with paroxysmal and incessant tachycardia. The substrates of the arrhythmias differed between the pediatric and adult patients. However, the success rate of the ablation, complications, and recurrence during childhood were similar to those of adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. pichang_lee@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Pi-Chang
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Betau
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Shih-Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chin G-Tai
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Yi-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chern-En
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: C C Laura
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome