Postinfarction ventricular arrhythmias in children

Ventricular arrhythmias

A spectrum of distinctive clinical presentations and electrocardiographic patterns have been recognized in neonates with ventricular arrhythmias. These may range from an incidental finding on a routine physical to cardiovascular collapse due to ventricular fibrillation. It has become increasingly important that the clinician considers ventricular tachycardia in the neonate with tachycardia when the QRS normal does not appear normal. In general, isolated premature ventricular depolarizations, couplets and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in the absence of heart disease are associated with a favorable prognosis. Most of these arrhythmias tend to resolve during the first month of life. Conversely, sustained ventricular arrhythmias associated with ischemia, myocarditis or ventricular tumors are associated with a guarded prognosis. Treatment is based on the definition of associated cardiovascular disease, support of hemodynamic status and the judicious use of antiarrhythmic agents. Finally, there has been an increased recognition of idiopathic forms of ventricular tachycardia in the neonate which are associated with a favorable prognosis and may not require pharmacologic treatment. This review will discuss these arrhythmias in neonates, associated forms of cardiovascular disease, current treatment options and long-term prognosis.

Ventricular tachycardia in neonates

Infant VT can be a devastating arrhythmia, with high mortality for those presenting with myocarditis, long QT syndrome, or cardiovascular collapse with rapid VT due to tumors. While management of these patients can be challenging and discouraging, other infants with wide QRS rhythms tend to follow a more benign course. These latter patients have accelerated idiopathic ventricular rhythm or aberrant forms of infant supraventricular tachycardia. Distinguishing these forms of wide QRS tachycardia from the more lethal forms is paramount to institution of appropriate therapies.