Radiofrequency ablation changes the quality of life of children with supraventricular tachycardias.

OBJECTIVE: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has rapidly become the first-line therapy for children with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Recently, more attention has been given to the measurement of health-related quality of life (QoL) in children. The primary aim of this study was to determine if there is a change in the QoL in children with SVT pre and post RFA procedure using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) cardiac inventory. In addition, the study discusses the impact of age, gender and variety of SVT mechanisms on the QoL. DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS: All consecutive children with SVT referred for RFA at Mansoura University Children's Hospital were enrolled in this study. The PedsQL cardiac module questionnaire was given to the children/parents to be filled out before and 1 month following RFA procedure. Evaluated areas were physical, emotional, social, school and psychosocial function. The paired t test was used to test the difference between pre-time and post-time points for the study groups. Demographic and clinical data were collected. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 38 patients who underwent a successful ablation. The mean age of the patients at the time of RFA procedure was 12.4±5.3 years. There was a statistically significant improvement in all measured areas 1 month post successful RFA as compared with pre ablation. Post ablation, the greatest score improvement was in physical functioning. Older children (>12 years) showed the greatest benefit, but gender and type of SVT did not influence outcome. CONCLUSIONS: RFA therapy is useful in improving QoL and perceptions in children with recurrent SVT.

Recommendations for participation in leisure-time physical activity and competitive sports in patients with arrhythmias and potentially arrhythmogenic conditions Part I: Supraventricular arrhythmias and pacemakers.

This document by the Study Group on Sports Cardiology of the European Society of Cardiology extends on previous recommendations for sports participation for competitive athletes by also incorporating guidelines for those who want to perform recreational physical activity. For different supraventricular arrhythmias and arrhythmogenic conditions, a description of the relationship between the condition and physical activity is given, stressing how arrhythmias can be influenced by exertion or can be a reflection of the (patho)physiological cardiac adaptation to sports participation itself. The following topics are covered in this text: sinus bradycardia; atrioventricular nodal conduction disturbances; pacemakers; atrial premature beats; paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia without pre-excitation; pre-excitation, asymptomatic or with associated arrhythmias (i.e. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome); atrial fibrillation; and atrial flutter. A related document discusses ventricular arrhythmias, channelopathies and implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

[The first experience with surgical treatment of supraventricular tachycardia]. / Pervyi opyt khirurgicheskogo lecheniia nadzheludochkovykh takhiaritmii.

The article analyses the late-term results of operations on 46 patients for paroxysms of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVTA) which were refractory to prophylactic administration of antiarrhythmics. Transvenous electrodestruction of the atrio-ventricular junction were carried out in 39 patients. The results were good in 34 and satisfactory in 3 patients; conductivity and paroxysms reappeared in 2 patients. ++Anti-tachycardial ECS were implanted in 6 patients with good results. One patient underwent electrodestruction of an accessory conduction tract of the type of Kent's bundle with a stable clinical effect. The results of the study provide evidence of the high efficacy of surgical management of complex SVTA in a regional cardiosurgical center.