Epidemiology and Outcome of Tachyarrhythmias in Tertiary Pediatric Cardiac Centers

Vol. 111, No. 3, 2008

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Original Research

Epidemiology and Outcome of Tachyarrhythmias in Tertiary Pediatric Cardiac Centers
Martial M. Massin^a, Avram Benatar^{a, b}, Gilles Rondia^a

^aDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology, Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital, Free University of Brussels (HUDERF-ULB) and
^bDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital UZ Brussels, Free University of Brussels (UZ-VUB), Brussels, Belgium

Address of Corresponding Author

Cardiology 2008;111:191-196 (DOI: 10.1159/000121603)

Key Words

Arrhythmias
Epidemiology
Child

Abstract

Introduction: Little is known about the real importance of pediatric arrhythmias. Methods: We analyzed the epidemiology, presentation and outcome of all clinically relevant tachyarrhythmias followed up in our pediatric institutions from 1995 to 2006. Results: A total of 250 cases were identified. The mean age ± SD at diagnosis was 4.7 ± 5.3 years, 45 cases were neonatal (18%). Supraventricular arrhythmias were noted in 210 children (84%), ventricular arrhythmias in 40 (16%). The most frequent symptoms were palpitations (n = 71) and syncope (n = 48) in older children, as well as monitoring of diseases (n = 62) and heart failure (n = 49) in younger patients. Recurrence was noted under or after therapy in 75 cases, mostly in cases diagnosed beyond infancy. At long-term follow-up, 169 patients have no recurrence without treatment (of whom 34 had required catheter ablation), 71 are under therapy and 10 died. Conclusion: Supraventricular arrhythmias in younger children are often an incidental diagnosis, respond to antiarrhythmic therapy and have a high incidence of resolution. In older children with supraventricular arrhythmias and in those with ventricular arrhythmias, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis is not rare, the arrhythmias are unlikely to resolve spontaneously and long-term antiarrhythmic treatment or catheter ablation is necessary.

Author Contacts

Prof. Martial Massin, MD, PhD
Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital
Free University of Brussels (HUDERF-ULB), Avenue J.J. Crocq, 15
BE-1020 Brussels (Belgium)
Tel. +32 2477 3179, Fax +32 2477 2125, E-Mail martial.massin@huderf.be

Article Information

Received: November 30, 2007
Accepted after revision: December 24, 2007
Published online: April 25, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 11

Medline Abstract (ID 18434724)

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