RECOVERY PATTERN OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION FOLLOWING RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION OF INCESSANT SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA IN INFANTS ANDCHILDREN

Objective-To assess recovery pattern of left ventricular function seco ndary to incessant tachycardia after radiofrequency ablation in a grou p of infants and children. Design and setting-A combined prospective a nd retrospective echocardiographic study carried out in a tertiary pae diatric cardiac centre. Patients-Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular size and function in nine children with incessant tachycar dia, before and after successful radiofrequency ablation. Age at ablat ion ranged from 2 months to 12.5 years (mean 4.1 years). Recovery of l eft ventricular function was analysed in relation to age at ablation ( group I < 18 months, group II > 18 months). Main outcome measure-Ventr icular recovery pattern. Results-Seven of the nine children had left v entricular dysfunction; six of these also had left ventricular dilatat ion. Ah children with left ventricular dysfunction had normalisation o f ejection fraction and fractional shortening; left ventricular dilata tion also improved, but the improvement occurred after recovery of fun ction. There was a shorter recovery time for left ventricular function in younger (group I) than in older children (group II) (mean (SD) 5.7 (7.2) months v 31.3 (5.2) (p < 0.002). Conclusions-Tachycardia induce d cardiomyopathy is reversible following curative treatment with radio frequency. Recovery of left ventricular systolic function precedes rec overy of left ventricular dilatation. Time course to recovery is short er in younger children.