title: Association of temporary complete AV block and junctional ectopic tachycardia after surgery for congenital heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) is a postoperative complication with a mortality rate of up to 14% after surgery for congenital heart disease. This study evaluated the risk factors of JET and explored the association of postoperative temporary third degree atrioventricular (AV) block and the occurrence of JET.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected retrospectively from 1158 patients who underwent surgery for congenital heart disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of JET was 2.8%. Temporary third degree AV block occurred in 1.6% of cases. Permanent third degree AV block requiring pacemaker implantation occurred in 1% of cases. In all, 56% of patients with JET had temporary AV block (P < 0.001), whereas no case of postoperative JET was reported in patients with permanent AV block (P = 0.56). temporary third degree AV block did not suffer from JET.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A correlation between temporary third degree AV block and postoperative JET could be observed. The risk factors identified for JET include younger age groups at the time of surgery, longer aortic cross clamping time and surgical procedures in proximity to the AV node.
authors: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Leipzig - Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Paech
authors: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Leipzig - Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Ingo
authors: I
authors: Dähnert
authors: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Leipzig - Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Kostelka
authors: Center for Clinical Research, University of Leipzig - Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Meinhardt
authors: M
authors: Mende
authors: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Leipzig - Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Roman
authors: R
authors: Gebauer
keywords: AV block; congenital heart disease; heart block; junctional ectopic tachycardia