Maintenance of AV synchrony in a small child utilizing two pacemakers and the triggered VVT mode: triggered pacing in small children.

Infants and small children with atrioventricular (AV) nodal disease frequently require pacing in order to maintain an adequate heart rate. The maintenance of AV synchrony is physiologically optimal in this setting. Unfortunately, small size and congenital anomalies often preclude the placement of standard transvenous dual chamber pacing systems.

Ventricular function and long-term pacing in children with congenital complete atrioventricular block.

Objective: To determine the sequela of right ventricular pacing in children with congenital complete atrioventricular block.

Background: Pacing is a well-accepted therapy for patients with congenital complete atrioventricular block. The long-term sequela of right ventricular pacing in this population has not been well described.

Mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to combined dual organ transplantation in children.

The use of mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to cardiac transplantation is now an accepted therapeutic option. Also, as the criteria for organ transplantation have broadened, multi-organ transplantation has become more feasible. We report the cases of 2 children with end-stage heart failure and renal failure who were successfully bridged to combined, single-donor heart and kidney transplantation with mechanical circulatory support.

Leukocyte suppression is associated with improved clinical outcomes in children's status after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Background: Leukocyte suppression is a sequela of immunosuppressive therapy after orthotopic heart transplantation and may result in discontinuation of anti-proliferative agents. Clinical outcomes in this patient population have not been well delineated.

Methods: This study was a retrospective review of children who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation at our institution from 1986 to 2003.

Radio-frequency catheter ablation of accessory pathway mediated tachycardia in a child after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Successful radio-frequency catheter ablation of accessory pathway mediated supraventricular tachycardia in the transplanted heart has been reported sporadically in adults, but has not been reported in children. This is the first report of a child having received a donor heart with manifest pre-excitation and who subsequently underwent successful radio-frequency ablation of the accessory pathway.