[Arrhythmias in pediatric patients]

Arrhythmias in children occur frequently as isolated phenomena, however, may also represent comorbidities of congenital heart disease. Therefore electrophysiologic assessments must include morphologic and hemodynamic evaluations. Besides the arrhythmias commonly seen in adults children present with arrhythmias unique to pediatric patients. Antiarrhythmic therapy depends on patient age, expected natural history of the arrhythmia and possible congenital heart disease. As in adult patients in addition to antiarrhythmic drug therapy radiofrequency catheter ablation is a preferred definitive treatment especially in patients with supraventricular tachycardias. Bradycardias can be successfully treated with pacing systems which can already be implanted in the newborn period. As antiarrhythmic treatment in pediatric patients may be very complex a referral to a pediatric cardiology center is recommended.