title: Atrial resynchronization following heart transplantation in childhood.
abstract: Despite preserved left ventricular function, exercise capacity is often impaired after cardiac transplantation due to autonomic denervation of the donor's sinus node. We present our experience with atrio-atrial resynchronization in 2 pediatric heart transplant recipients. Both were highly active, suffered from chronotropic incompetence, and underwent successful atrial resynchronization with an objective improvement in exercise capacity, restoration of a physiologic chronotropic response, and resolution of dyspnea. Long-term stable recipient sinus node function may, therefore, be maintained in some cardiac transplant recipients with standard atrio-atrial anastomes. Atrio-atrial pacing may be feasible and effective years after transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sacre-Coeur Hospital, Canada.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cadrin-Tourigny
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khairy
authors.forename: Suzanne J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vobecky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000601:surgery; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*