Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T00:40:32.449Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Is routine echocardiography valuable after uncomplicated catheter ablation in children?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 January 2005

Janneke A. E. Kammeraad ,
Narayanswami Sreeram ,
Vincent van Driel ,
Ron Oliver  and
Seshadri Balaji
Janneke A. E. Kammeraad
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Narayanswami Sreeram
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Vincent van Driel
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Ron Oliver
Affiliation:
Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
Seshadri Balaji
Affiliation:
Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We determined the clinical value of routine transthoracic echocardiography performed after catheter ablation of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias in children. Between April 1996 and December 2003, 253 children, of whom 135 male, with the overall group having a median age of 9, ranging from 0.1 to 19 years, underwent 280 uncomplicated radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures for supraventricular tachyarrhythmias at three institutions. In every child, transthoracic Doppler echocardiography was performed before and after the procedure. The pre-ablation transthoracic echocardiograms were normal in all, and this was one of the criterions for inclusion. The post-ablation echocardiogram showed a disorder in four asymptomatic patients. In one patient, with focal atrial tachycardia, ablated via a retrograde aortic approach, there was mild aortic valvar insufficiency. This had resolved 6 months later. Pericardial effusions developed in 3 other children. In 2 the effusions resolved spontaneously but 1 patient required pericardial drainage. This same patient also developed clinically asymptomatic mild aortic insufficiency, which resolved spontaneously within 6 months. Routine echocardiography after uncomplicated catheter ablation procedures is of clinical value, and is especially indicated when a retrograde aortic approach has been used.

Keywords

Catheter ablationechocardiographychildrencomplications
Type
Original Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 14 , Issue 4 , August 2004 , pp. 386 - 388
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Kugler JD, Danford DA, Deal BJ, Gillette PC, Perry JC, Silka MJ, Van Hare GF, Walsh EP. Radiofrequency catheter ablation for tachyarrhythmias in children and adolescents. N Engl J Med 1994; 330: 1481–1487.Google Scholar
Kugler JD, Danford DA, Houston K, Felix G. Radiofrequency catheter ablation for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in children and adolescents without structural heart disease. Am J Cardiol 1997; 80: 1439–1443.Google Scholar
Kugler JD, Danford DA, Houston KA, Felix G. Pediatric radiofrequency catheter ablation registry success, fluoroscopy time, and complication rate for supraventricular tachycardia: comparison of early and recent eras. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2002; 13: 336–341.Google Scholar
Pires LA, Huang SK, Wagshal AB, Mazzola F, Young PG, Moser S. Clinical utility of routine transthoracic echocardiographic studies after uncomplicated radiofrequency catheter ablation: a prospective mulicenter study. PACE 1996; 19: 1502–1507.Google Scholar
Olsson A, Darpö B, Bergfeldt L, Rosenqvist M. Frequency and long term follow up of valvar insufficiency caused by retrograde aortic radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures. Heart 1999; 81: 292–296.Google Scholar
Minich LL, Snider R, Dick MD. Doppler detection of valvular regurgitation after radiofrequency ablation of accessory connections. Am J Cardiol 1992; 70: 116–117.Google Scholar