J Korean Pediatr Soc.
1996 Oct;39(10):1455-1460.
Catheter Ablation of Atrial Flutter Using Radiofrequency Energy in a Child: A Case Report
- Affiliations
-
- 1Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Division of Division of Cardiology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Atrial flutter is a potentially life threatening complication of repair or palliation of congenital heart disease and is frequently drug resistant. Recent studies in human have demonstrated that common type atrial flutter is due to macro-reentry in the right atrium and that the reentrant circuit may involve slow conduction in the low posteroseptal area of the right atrium. Catheter ablation of atrial flutter has been successful using radiofrequency energy. Application of radiofrequency energy at the isthmus between the inferior vena cava and tricuspid ring was effective in preventing recurrence of atrial flutter in a 6 year old boy after open heart surgery of common atrium. Despite concerns regarding ablation scar in growing children and persistence of underlying structural abnormalities in postoperative patients, radiofrequency ablation of atrial flutter appears to be another useful therapeutic option in management of this not so rare but potentially malignant and often resistant arrhythmia.