title: Pharmacological therapy in children with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
abstract: Heart rhythm disorders in children are not different, on electrocardiographic trace, from heart rhythm disorders in adults with the exception of incidence which is different according to the age. Paticularly, atrial flutter (FlA) and fibrillation (FA) are very uncommon arrhythmias in the general pediatric population. Generally atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, in our experience, is a temporary heart rhythm disturbance connected to specifical and resovable reasons with the exception of Fontain's surgical correction of congenital heart diseases or cardiopathies with dilatation of both atria. Presenting symptoms, symptom history (e.g., frequency, duration, and severity), risk assessment, previous response to alternative treatment options, convenience and patient preference for a specific treatment option, and costeffectiveness of a treatment option are among the many factors that should be considered. Treatment of atrial flutter and fibrillation in pediatric age involves several options: Pharmacological therapy, Transoesophageal atrial pacing (TEAP), Electrical cardioversion and Catheter ablation. In this review we evaluated the physiopathology, the clinical features and the current terapeutical strategies for these arrythmias in paediatric age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Palermo, Italy. Giovanni.fazio-aaaa@poste.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Visconti
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbaro
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novo
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers