Clinical spectrum, therapeutic management, and follow-up of ventricular tachycardia in infants and young children

Am Heart J. 1996 Jan;131(1):186-91. doi: 10.1016/s0002-8703(96)90068-x.

Abstract

We reviewed 40 infants and young children with VT. Median maximum VT rate was 214 beats/min (range 152 to 375 beats/min). A cause was defined in 20 (50%), the most common being cardiomyopathy or myocarditis in 8 (20%). There were six deaths (15%) related to VT, three of which occurred at diagnosis and in patients less than 1 week old. In 5 of 6 deaths related to VT, a cause was defined. At follow-up, 31 (91%) of 34 survivors did not have VT. The presence of symptoms was a predictor of death related to VT. The outlook for asymptomatic patients and those who survived more than 6 months after diagnosis and who do not have progressive myocardial disease appears good.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actuarial Analysis
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bundle-Branch Block / diagnosis
  • Bundle-Branch Block / drug therapy
  • Child, Preschool
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Long QT Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Long QT Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Survival Rate
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / diagnosis*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / drug therapy*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / etiology
  • Torsades de Pointes / diagnosis
  • Torsades de Pointes / drug therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Function
  • Ventricular Premature Complexes / diagnosis
  • Ventricular Premature Complexes / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents