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Updated: May 24, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Atrial fibrillation in two adolescents
Hitesh Agrawal1, Niva Shakya, Zahra Naheed
1Department of Pediatrics, John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) is rare in adolescents and typically linked to heart disease. This report details two cases of symptomatic AF in teens with no clear cause, highlighting a gap in management guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Electrophysiology
Background:
- Idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) is uncommon in adolescent populations.
- Existing literature often associates adolescent AF with underlying structural heart disease.
Observation:
- Two adolescent cases of symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) were identified.
- These patients presented without any identifiable cardiac or systemic etiology.
- No structural heart abnormalities were detected in either case.
Findings:
- The presented cases represent idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) in adolescents.
- The etiology of AF in these young patients remains unknown.
- Current clinical guidelines for managing AF in this demographic are lacking.
Implications:
- This highlights the need for further research into the causes of idiopathic AF in adolescents.
- Developing specific management strategies and guidelines for pediatric AF is crucial.
- Early recognition and tailored treatment approaches may improve outcomes for affected adolescents.
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