BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT), in general, has a favorable outcome. However, there are insufficient data regarding MAT in a pediatric population. This study sought to determine the clinical course of MAT and identify potential prognostic factors. METHODS: The medical records of MAT patients from 1997–2015 were reviewed. The arrhythmia control rate and factors for unfavorable outcomes were assessed and compared to those in the literature. RESULTS: Of the 33 included patients (19 boys and 14 girls), 27 were infants less than 1 year of age. The median age at diagnosis was 1.7 months (range, 0 day to 14 years). Fourteen (42%) patients had structural heart disease. Eight (24%) patients had lung disease and 6 (18%) had a syndromic diagnosis belonging to RASopathy. Two patients developed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, in whom genetic analysis confirmed the presence of the RyR2 mutation several years later. MAT was controlled in 26 patients (84%) within 3.9 months (median; range, 16 days–18.4 years) using an average of 2.4 medications. There were 3 cases of cardiopulmonary mortality. The arrhythmia control rate was higher in the infant group (85%) than in the non-infant group (67%), although this trend was not statistically significant. There was a significantly lower rate of unfavorable outcomes in the idiopathic infant group (n=11) than in the other groups (p=0.008). Considering the findings of previous studies, the mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with structural heart disease than in patients without (21% vs. 5%, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: MAT usually affects infants and has a favorable prognosis, particularly in the idiopathic infant group. However, in the presence of other comorbidities, MAT may have a variable clinical course.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Flutter ; Comorbidity ; Diagnosis ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung Diseases ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common chronic arrhythmia in adults, is rarely reported in children. Moreover, most of the previously reported children with AF have comorbidities, such as structural heart diseases, rheumatic diseases, and thyroid diseases. This case report is about a healthy 9-year-old boy who was diagnosed with AF without cardiac anomaly. He visited the emergency department with chest pain and palpitation, lasting 2 hours. His electrocardiogram showed narrow-complex tachycardia, which led to the diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia. The administration of adenosine revealed rapid irregular P waves. After electrical cardioversion, cardiac rhythm was converted to normal sinus rhythm. This case report suggests that when children with narrow-complex tachycardia visit the emergency department, the possibility of AF, in addition to supraventricular tachycardia, should be considered if the RR intervals are markedly irregular.
Adenosine ; Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Chest Pain ; Child ; Comorbidity ; Diagnosis ; Electric Countershock ; Electrocardiography ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Thyroid Diseases

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) refers to a heterogeneous group of arrhythmias localized within the upper part of the heart (the His bundle or above). In general, the term SVT does not include atrial fibrillation. Common forms of SVT include atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia, focal atrial tachycardia, and atrial flutter. Other, less common arrhythmias also fall under the category of SVT, including inappropriate sinus tachycardia and junctional reentrant/ectopic tachycardia. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia refers to AVNRT and AVRT. SVTs can be identified and classified by clinical manifestation/physical examination, ECG, and/or electrophysiologic analysis.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Flutter ; Bundle of His ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry ; Tachycardia, Sinus ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular*

Arrhythmias in the neonatal period are not uncommon, and may occur in neonates with a normal heart or in those with structural heart disease. Neonatal arrhythmias are classified as either benign or nonbenign. Benign arrhythmias include sinus arrhythmia, premature atrial contraction, premature ventricular contraction, and junctional rhythm; these arrhythmias have no clinical significance and do not need therapy. Supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, atrioventricular conduction abnormalities, and genetic arrhythmia such as congenital long-QT syndrome are classified as nonbenign arrhythmias. Although most neonatal arrhythmias are asymptomatic and rarely life-threatening, the prognosis depends on the early recognition and proper management of the condition in some serious cases. Precise diagnosis with risk stratification of patients with nonbenign neonatal arrhythmia is needed to reduce morbidity and mortality. In this article, I review the current understanding of the common clinical presentation, etiology, natural history, and management of neonatal arrhythmias in the absence of an underlying congenital heart disease.
Arrhythmia, Sinus ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Atrial Premature Complexes ; Diagnosis* ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mortality ; Natural History ; Prognosis ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Premature Complexes

Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; diagnosis ; surgery

The prevalence of pneumothorax cases among Intensive Care Unit patients who require mechanical ventilation ranges from 4%-15%. A pneumothorax remains one of the most serious complications of positive pressure ventilation. It can be diagnosed in a critically ill patient through a physical examination or radiographic studies that include chest radiographs, ultrasonography, or computed tomography scanning. However, in a critically ill patient, the diagnosis of a pneumothorax is often complicated by other diseases and by difficulties in imaging sick and unconscious patients. Although electrocardiogram changes associated with a pneumothorax have been described for many years, there has been no report of such among patients who require mechanical ventilation. In this paper, we report 2 cases of a spontaneous pneumothorax with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation due to acute respiratory failure.
Critical Illness ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Physical Examination ; Pneumothorax* ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Prevalence ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency* ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular* ; Ultrasonography

A patient with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy, and pre-existing atypical atrial flutter and left bundle branch block, developed broad complex tachycardia. In this unique and uncommon case of double tachycardia, we discuss the diagnostic approach of ventricular tachycardia in patients with broad complex tachycardia, and the use of different contemporary algorithms to help diagnose ventricular tachycardia and differentiate it from supraventricular tachycardia with aberrant conduction.
Algorithms ; Atrial Flutter ; complications ; diagnosis ; Bundle-Branch Block ; physiopathology ; Cardiomyopathies ; complications ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

We discuss two cases of incessant atrial tachycardia (AT), including the presentation and clinical course. It is important to differentiate AT from other causes of supraventricular tachycardia, such as atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT), as it would have implications on clinical management. Electrocardiographic features of AT, especially the presence of an AV Wenckebach phenomenon with 'grouped beating', are critical for differentiating AT from AVRT and AVNRT. It is also vital to identify the P waves and their relations to QRS on electrocardiography, as this would aid in the differentiation of various supraventricular tachycardias.
Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrocardiography ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Heart Conduction System ; abnormalities ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Respiration ; Tachycardia ; diagnosis ; Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry ; diagnosis ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; diagnosis ; Tricuspid Valve ; physiopathology

Electrocardiographic (ECG) artefacts may closely simulate both supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias. We describe a case initially diagnosed as rapid atrial fibrillation, based on 12-lead surface ECG (especially the limb leads) and monitor tracing. The arrhythmia was resistant to beta blockers. Because of the at times apparently regular rhythm, an esophageal ECG recording was performed, and adenosine was administered. When the presumed atrial fibrillation terminated after sodium pentothal was administered while preparing for electrical cardioversion, the oesophageal ECG recordings and the ECGs during adenosine administration were reviewed. An ECG artefact diagnosis was suspected, and then confirmed, during relapse of the "arrhythmia," with simple palpation of the radial pulse and cardiac auscultation.
Adenosine/diagnostic use ; Adult ; *Artifacts ; Atrial Fibrillation/*diagnosis/physiopathology/therapy ; *Diagnostic Errors ; *Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular/*diagnosis/physiopathology/therapy ; Time Factors ; *Unnecessary Procedures

PURPOSE: The use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) to prevent sudden cardiac death is increasing in children and adolescents. This study investigated the use of ICDs in children with congenital heart disease. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on the clinical characteristics and effectiveness of ICD implantation at the department of pediatrics of a single tertiary center between 2007 and 2011. RESULTS: Fifteen patients underwent ICD implantation. Their mean age at the time of implantation was 14.5+/-5.4 years (range, 2 to 22 years). The follow-up duration was 28.9+/-20.4 months. The cause of ICD implantation was cardiac arrest in 7, sustained ventricular tachycardia in 6, and syncope in 2 patients. The underlying disorders were as follows: ionic channelopathy in 6 patients (long QT type 3 in 4, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia [CPVT] in 1, and J wave syndrome in 1), cardiomyopathy in 5 patients, and postoperative congenital heart disease in 4 patients. ICD coils were implanted in the pericardial space in 2 children (ages 2 and 6 years). Five patients received appropriate ICD shock therapy, and 2 patients received inappropriate shocks due to supraventricular tachycardia. During follow-up, 2 patients required lead dysfunction-related revision. One patient with CPVT suffered from an ICD storm that was resolved using sympathetic denervation surgery. CONCLUSION: The overall ICD outcome was acceptable in most pediatric patients. Early diagnosis and timely ICD implantation are recommended for preventing sudden death in high-risk children and patients with congenital heart disease.
Adolescent ; Cardiomyopathies ; Channelopathies ; Child ; Convulsive Therapy ; Death, Sudden ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Defibrillators ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Korea ; Long QT Syndrome ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock ; Sympathectomy ; Syncope ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Tachycardia, Ventricular