title: Perspectives in interventional electrophysiology in children and those with congenital heart disease: electrophysiology in children.
abstract: Recent developments in paediatric pacing and ablation of arrhythmia substrate have been characterised by adoption and modification of techniques used in adults. Infants, small children and those of all ages with congenital heart disease are a patient group with a higher risk profile needing a special approach. Current success rates for catheter ablation are high and major complication rates are low. Important issues with respect to long-term outcome include questions about coronary injury, long-term effects of radiation exposure and late recurrence. Non-fluoroscopic electro-anatomical mapping systems (3D systems), cryo-ablation and remote navigation are techniques recently improved such that it is possible to potentially reduce fluoroscopy and complications. Pacing in young children and congenital heart disease often warrants an epicardial approach to avoid embolism, venous occlusion and lead failure related to growth. Defibrillator and resynchronisation therapy are increasingly important tools to reduce mortality, although the indications are not as clear as in adult patients without congenital heart disease.
authors.affiliation: The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Australia. andreas.pflaumer@rch.org.au
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pflaumer
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chard
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male