Role of catheter ablation in postoperative arrhythmias

Patients who have undergone repair of congenital heart disease are at risk for atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden death, both because of altered substrate for arrhythmias and an altered hemodynamic response. Despite an armamentarium of arrhythmia management tools, including drug therapy, antibradycardia, pacing, antitachycardia pacing, surgical ablation and catheter ablation, management of these arrhythmias remains a challenge.

This report provides an overview of the successes and failures of catheter ablation for treating and preventing these postoperative arrhythmias, and discusses ongoing developments, which may improve early and late outcome.