Natural history and current therapy for complete heart block in children and patients with congenital heart disease.
Complete heart block, either congenital or acquired, in children and patients with congenital heart disease is a relatively frequent occurrence requiring therapy. The natural history of this condition has been distorted by the advent of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. The therapy of complete heart block is evolving with new data suggesting that traditional treatment strategies utilizing right ventricular apical pacing may have inadvertent deleterious effects on cardiac function. In the following manuscript, the natural history of complete heart block is reviewed and the current therapy examined.
Fischbach
Peter S
PS
Sibley Heart Center-Cardiology, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. fischbachp@kidsheart.com
Frias
Patricio A
PA
Strieper
Margaret J
MJ
Campbell
Robert M
RM
D054537:Atrioventricular Block / Q000151:congenital / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D002309:Cardiology / Q000639:trends*; D006327:Heart Block / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000639:trends*