Cardiac arrhythmias in children - what to do? Electrophysiological examinations and ablations in paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias in children
Abstract
Supraventricular tachycardias appear in nearly 55 % of arrhythmias in a pediatric outpatient department. The incidence is about 1-4/1,000 patients.
Two different forms of reentrant tachycardias can be diagnosed in nearly all cases: atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) or AV-nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Negative impacts on emotional and/or cognitive development of children with these types of tachycardias are reported.
To avoid unnecessary worry or anxiety in patients and families and to be able to give the correct information for treatment considerations, it is important to have a principal understanding of the development of reentrant tachycardias and of electrophysiological examinations. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of this topic so that a proper explanation of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and the treatment options can be given to the patients and their parents.
Other forms of supraventricular tachycardias, such as focal atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter, or atrial fibrillation are rare in childhood and therefore not discussed in this article.