[Implantation of cardiac pacemaker in children, author's experiences]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Electrophysiology

Context:

• Congenital and acquired heart conditions in children can lead to severe bradycardia.
• Conditions include atrio-ventricular block, sick sinus syndrome, LQT syndrome, and cardio-depressive syncope.
• Pacemaker implantation is a critical therapeutic intervention for these pediatric cardiac conditions.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cardiac pacemaker implantation in pediatric patients.
• To analyze the different implantation systems (endocardial vs. epicardial) and pacemaker types (single-chamber vs. dual-chamber) used in children.
• To assess the outcomes and complications associated with long-term cardiac pacing in young individuals.

Summary:

• Twenty-six children (aged 1-17) underwent pacemaker implantation or exchange.
• Nineteen received endocardial implants, while seven required epicardial systems, chosen based on age and disease characteristics.
• Twenty children received single-chamber pacemakers, and six received dual-chamber devices, with no observed complications during follow-up.

Impact:

• Cardiac pacing is confirmed as a safe and effective method for managing severe bradycardia in children.
• The study supports the use of pacemakers to improve the quality of life and prognosis for pediatric patients with complex cardiac arrhythmias.
• Findings provide valuable data for clinical decision-making regarding pacemaker selection and implantation techniques in pediatric cardiology.