[Pacemaker implantation in children: is this a therapy or a pathogenetic mechanism for ventricular dysfunction?]

Ventricular pacing, typically initiated from a right ventricular apical electrode, inherently causes abnormal biventricular activation, decreases left ventricular function, and may cause histopathological changes. Data regarding cardiac resynchronization therapy in pediatric patients are limited. Some authors evaluated the potential of improving paced left ventricular function by a septal electrode implant site. For this reason the role of pacing is not clear in children. In isolated congenital atrioventricular block, cardiac pacing represents a satisfactory treatment. However, recent evidence has demonstrated that a subset of patients with isolated congenital complete atrioventricular block develops dilated cardiomyopathy. Patients with congenital heart diseases after surgery represent a unique and expanding population. Some will require pacemaker or implantable defibrillator therapy. They pose technical and management challenges not encountered in other groups receiving pacing, and the complication and reintervention rates specific to this population are not well defined. Moreover, the small patient size, structural cardiac abnormalities, and growth may complicate pediatric pacemaker management. Better knowledge of risk factors for lead failure in these patients may help improve future outcomes. In this review we analyzed many of these problems.