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Asymptomatic ventricular pre-excitation in children
Giovanni Fazio1, Claudia Mossuto, Ivana Basile
1Department of Cardiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. Giovanni.fazio-aaaa@poste.it
Insights
Asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in children generally shows a good outcome. Electrophysiological evaluation
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Cardiac Electrophysiology
Background:
- Ventricular pre-excitation, characterized by an atrioventricular pathway, affects pediatric patients.
- Asymptomatic presentation necessitates risk assessment for potential cardiac events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term risk and outcomes of asymptomatic ventricular pre-excitation in children.
- To evaluate the utility of diagnostic tools in managing these patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 124 pediatric patients (mean age 7 years) with ventricular pre-excitation from 1985-2007.
- Annual Holter monitoring, ergometric testing in 76 patients, and transesophageal electrophysiological studies in 14 patients.
- A mean follow-up of 4.2 years was conducted, with 4 patients lost to follow-up.
Main Results:
- 15% of patients had an intermittent pathway; 3.4% experienced supraventricular tachycardia despite being asymptomatic.
- 21% of patients undergoing ergometric testing showed complete delta wave disappearance.
- All patients remained in good health during the follow-up period.
Conclusions:
- Asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in children demonstrates a favorable short-term prognosis.
- The predictive value of electrophysiological evaluation in this population remains uncertain.
Objective:
This retrospective study was planned for a good risk assessment of asymptomatic patients affected by ventricular pre-excitation.
Methods:
From 1985 to 2007, 124 patients with an atrioventricular pathway (electrocardiographic signs of ventricular pre-excitation) were admitted to our cardiology division. The average age was 7 years (range 1 month to 18 years). The mean follow-up period in the whole population of patients was 4.2 years (range 1-13 years). Four patients were lost during the follow-up. During this period, all patients remained in good health. In all of them, we performed a Holter evaluation every year. An intermittent pathway was detected in 18 patients (15%), and four of them (3.4%) showed a supraventricular tachycardia even though they were asymptomatic patients. An ergometric test was performed in 76 asymptomatic patients; 16 children (21%) showed a total abrupt vanishing of delta wave. A transoesophageal electrophysiological evaluation was performed in 14 patients.
Conclusion:
According to our data, asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in children has a good outcome during a short-term (4 years) follow-up. The usefulness of electrophysiological evaluation (in particular its predictive value) is uncertain.
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