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Outcomes of interventional electrophysiology in children under 2 years of age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 December 2011

Christian J. Turner ,
Kai C. Lau  and
Gary F. Sholler
Christian J. Turner*
Affiliation:
The Heart Centre for Children, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia
Kai C. Lau
Affiliation:
The Heart Centre for Children, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia
Gary F. Sholler
Affiliation:
The Heart Centre for Children, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia
*
Correspondence to: Dr C. J. Turner, The Heart Centre for Children, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead New South Wales 2145 Sydney, Australia. Tel: +61 2 9845 2345; Fax: +61 2 9845 2163; E-mail: christian.j.turner@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background

Despite the increasing utilisation of interventional electrophysiology in adults and older children with arrhythmias, there are few data reflecting the safety and efficacy of this procedure in the age group under 2 years.

Aim

We describe our experience in assessing the efficacy and safety with this group of children.

Methods

We undertook a retrospective review of all infants under 2 years of age who underwent an interventional electrophysiology procedure between 1995 and 2009 to determine indications, procedural details, short- and long-term success, and complication rate.

Results

A total of 23 interventional electrophysiology procedures were performed in 17 patients initially under 2 years of age. Of these, three patients had congenital heart disease. The most common indication was arrhythmia resistant to pharmacological agents (59%), with the remaining cases being arrhythmia complicated by cardiovascular instability (41%). There was initial success in 15 patients after the first procedure, with early recurrence in four. Following six repeat procedures, there was long-term success in 15 patients (88%), with three repeat procedures being performed after 2 years of age. There was one non-procedural death related to persisting arrhythmia. There were three minor complications. In one patient, cryotherapy was used successfully.

Conclusions

The interventional electrophysiology procedure is a viable therapeutic option in infants under 2 years with arrhythmia resistant to other conventional medical management.

Keywords

Radiofrequency ablationinfantschildrensupraventricular tachycardiacomplicationssafety
Type
Original Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 22 , Issue 5 , 13 September 2012 , pp. 499 - 506
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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