Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia in children and adolescents: early effectiveness of radiofrequency current ablation

Abstract

Background and aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate early effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) current ablation for idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia (iVA) in children and to identify factors affecting treatment results.

Methods: Among over 600 children, 30 ablation procedures were performed for iVA. Patient age ranged from 2.0 to 17.9 years (mean 14.7 ± 3.1). We analysed arrhythmia recurrences at 24 h and the effect of patient age, arrhythmia location, type of anaesthesia, and the presence of spontaneous arrhythmia during the procedure on the treatment results.

Results: Sixteen (53%) children had right ventricular (RV) arrhythmia, including RV outflow tract arrhythmia in 9 of them (56%). In 14 (47%) children, arrhythmia was located in the left ventricle (LV), including LV outflow tract in 2 children, and the posterior fascicle in 4 children. The procedure was effective in 13 (81%) children in the RV arrhythmia group and in 11 (78%) children inthe LV arrhythmia group, including all children with fascicular tachycardia. The only variable that affected the treatment results was the presence of spontaneous arrhythmia during the procedure (p = 0.012). No procedural complications were noted.

Conclusions: RF current ablation of iVA is a safe procedure with high early effectiveness. The only variable that affected the treatment results was the presence of spontaneous arrhythmia during the procedure.