Transesophageal electrophysiologic study to determine the inducibility after successful ablation of supraventricular tachycardia in children.
BACKGROUND
Radiofrequency ablation has become first-line therapy for supraventricular tachycardia in all age groups, but there has been a concern regarding the long-term effectiveness of the procedure in children. This study aimed to determine the inducibility after successful ablation of supraventricular tachycardia in children; assessment was performed using a transesophageal electrophysiologic study.


RESULTS
A total of 63 patients who had been treated successfully for supraventricular tachycardia with radiofrequency ablation were included in the study. A transesophageal electrophysiologic study was performed 2 months after radiofrequency ablation. Tachycardia was induced in nine of 34 symptomatic and five of 29 asymptomatic patients by a transesophageal electrophysiologic study. Ten patients had recurrence of the same type of supraventricular tachycardia seen previously, and two had a new type of arrhythmia during a transesophageal electrophysiologic study. Tachycardia inducibility rate was 16% in all patients, 22.8% in patients with atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia, and 8% in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective method to manage children with supraventricular tachycardia, but patients must be observed for recurrence and new arrhythmias. Sustained tachycardia may also be induced in asymptomatic patients. A transesophageal electrophysiologic study is effective and safe for follow-up of radiofrequency ablation for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients.
Erdoğan
Ilkay
I
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, School of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Ozer
Sema
S
Karagöz
Tevfik
T
Celiker
Alpay
A
D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome