Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy As a Chronic Heart Failure Model in Swine
Published on: February 17, 2018
Permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia: an incessant tachycardia in children
Conceição Trigo1, Anabela Paixão, Manuel Nogueira da Silva
1Serviço de Cardiologia Pediátrica, Hospital de Santa Marta, Lishoa. cardioped@hsmarta.min-saude.pt
Unlabelled:
Permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia is an infrequent form of reentrant supraventricular tachycardia but is the commonest incessant tachycardia in childhood. The persistent nature of the tachycardia can lead to heart failure secondary to left ventricular dysfunction and the arrhythmia is often refractory to drug control.
Study Objective:
To review the main clinical features and therapeutic options currently available for this arrhythmia.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Patients:
A group of 5 children with a diagnosis of permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia.
Results:
Age at presentation ranged between 14 days and 12 years. Three were asymptomatic. The first echocardiogram displayed left ventricular dilation and decreased shortening fraction in one child. Pharmacological therapy was initially successful in all. During follow-up (0.2-4.5 years) the arrhythmia became resistant to medication in one case and radiofrequency ablation was carried out.
Conclusions:
Permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia has a wide range of clinical presentations. Pharmacological therapy is recommended, but radiofrequency ablation is the definitive treatment and only depends on patient age.
Related Concept Videos
Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias
Increased pulse rate
Many factors can elevate the risk of developing tachycardia. These include advanced age, a family history of arrhythmias, and an...
Dysrhythmias II: Classification of Tachyarrhythmias
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

