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[Long-term observation of ventricular extrasystole in children with normal hearts]
Insights
Benign uniform ventricular extrasystoles in children with normal hearts often persist but do not lead to serious heart issues. These common childhood arrhythmias require no treatment, even when frequent or long-lasting.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Child Health
Context:
- Ventricular extrasystoles are common in children.
- Historically, uniform extrasystoles were considered benign.
- Long-term follow-up data on these specific arrhythmias in children is valuable.
Purpose:
- To assess the long-term prognosis of benign uniform ventricular extrasystoles in children.
- To determine if these extrasystoles degenerate into more serious arrhythmias.
- To evaluate the need for treatment in children with persistent extrasystoles.
Summary:
- A cohort of 47 children with benign uniform ventricular extrasystoles was identified.
- 27 children were re-examined after a mean of 4.4 years.
- 18 children still had extrasystoles with unchanged characteristics; 9 were arrhythmia-free. No serious dysrhythmias developed.
Impact:
- Findings support that benign uniform ventricular extrasystoles in children are not associated with adverse cardiac events.
- Reassures clinicians and parents about the generally favorable prognosis.
- Supports a conservative management approach, avoiding unnecessary interventions.
Unlabelled:
Between 1971 and 1980 uniform ventricular extrasystoles, classified as benign, were noticed in 47 children with normal hearts. After a mean observation period of 4.4 years 27 of these children, mean age 10.5 years, could be reexamined. This involved physical examination followed by resting and exercise ECG, 24-hour continuous ECG and echocardiography. Of the 27 children, 18 still had extrasystoles having the same morphological characteristics and identical behaviour under exercise as those seen on first examination. Nine children were free of extrasystoles in all ECG examinations. In none of the 27 children were there any complaints between the first and the second examination or signs of degeneration of the extrasystoles into threatening dysrhythmias.
Conclusion:
Uniform extrasystoles disappearing or decreasing on exercise in otherwise healthy children require no treatment even when occurring frequently and persisting over years.