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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
[Outcome of 30 congenital atrio-ventricular blocks]
F Verdier1, M Jimenez, J M Chevalier
1Hôpital d'instruction des armées R. Picqué, Bordeaux.
Insights
Congenital isolated atrio-ventricular block (CAVB) is rare, but patients show good long-term survival. Early diagnosis, especially in utero, indicates a worse prognosis for children with CAVB.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
Context:
- Congenital isolated atrio-ventricular block (CAVB) management is poorly described in literature.
- A retrospective study analyzed 30 cases of isolated congenital CAVB from 1980-2003.
- The average follow-up period was 14 years, with no reported deaths.
Purpose:
- To describe the management and long-term outcomes of congenital isolated atrio-ventricular block (CAVB) in pediatric patients.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of cardiac stimulation in managing CAVB.
- To identify factors influencing prognosis in CAVB.
Summary:
- Thirty patients with isolated congenital CAVB were studied, with 20 requiring pacemakers due to symptoms or bradycardia.
- Epicardial VVI pacing was the initial approach in 65% of cases, followed by endocavitary pacing in 81%.
- Cardiac stimulation did not prevent dilated cardiomyopathy; 10 patients without pacemakers experienced chronotropic insufficiency during exertion.
Impact:
- Patients with CAVB demonstrate a favorable long-term vital prognosis.
- CAVB diagnosed in utero is associated with a poorer prognosis for affected children.
- This study contributes valuable data on the long-term management and outcomes of congenital CAVB.
Abstract:
Congenital isolated atrio-ventricular block (CAVB) is a rare pathology, and its management is still rather poorly described through international literature. Within the service of pediatric cardiology leaded by Pr Choussat and Dr Jimenez (Cardiologic Hospital Haut-Lévêque of Bordeaux), we collected from 1980 to 2003, 30 isolated congenital CAVB, constituting the purpose of this retrospective study. Average follow-up is 14 +/- 8.8 years. None death occurred. CAVB are discovered at an average age of 4.8 years old; 6 cases were diagnosed in utero, half of them were associated with maternal lupus. Twenty patients on 30 were fitted with stimulator at an average age of 8.7 +/- 6.9 years old, due to symptoms or bradycardy. Epicardic fitting in VVI mode represents 65% of first approaches, it is followed by endocavitary way for 81% of cases. Cardiac stimulation does not prevent from dilated cardiomyopathy. Among 30 patients 10 were not fitted with stimulator, half of them presents chronotrop insufficiency during effort. As a conclusion, our patients show a good long-term vital prognosis; although CAVB discovered in utero lead to worse prognosis for children.
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