Management of supraventricular arrhythmias in adults with congenital heart disease.

Abstract

Supraventricular arrhythmias are a frequent complication in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). The prevalence increases with time since surgery, complexity of the underlying defect, type of repair and older age at surgery. Arrhythmias are the most frequent reason for hospital admission and along with heart failure the leading cause of death. The arrhythmia-associated increase in morbidity and mortality makes their management a key task in patients with ACHD. Intra-atrial re-entry is the most frequent arrhythmia mechanism. Less common arrhythmia mechanisms are supraventricular tachycardias in the presence of an accessory pathway, atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia or focal tachycardias. Patient management includes stroke prevention, acute termination and prevention of arrhythmia recurrence. Acute treatment depends on patients' symptoms. In cases of haemodynamic instability, immediate cardioversion is warranted. For stable patients, acute treatment includes rate control and termination by antiarrhythmic drugs or electrical cardioversion. Following a symptomatic arrhythmia, catheter ablation or treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs is recommended to prevent recurrences. Advances in mapping and ablation technology are now associated with high success rates of catheter ablation. In patients with a complex substrate recurrence rates of 50% remain high. However, in the presence of side effects and complications associated with long-term antiarrhythmic drug therapy, redo procedures are encouraged by current guidelines.

• Authors: Kristina Wasmer, Lars Eckardt
• Journal: Heart (British Cardiac Society) (Heart) Vol. 102 Issue 20 Pg. 1614-9 (10 15 2016) ISSN: 1468-201X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27312002 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Chemical References

• Anti-Arrhythmia Agents

Topics

• Accessory Atrioventricular Bundle (physiopathology)
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Anti-Arrhythmia Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Catheter Ablation (adverse effects, mortality)
• Electrocardiography
• Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac
• Heart Conduction System (physiopathology)
• Heart Defects, Congenital (complications, mortality, surgery)
• Humans
• Recurrence
• Risk Factors
• Stroke (etiology, prevention & control)
• Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry (etiology, mortality, physiopathology, therapy)
• Tachycardia, Supraventricular (etiology, mortality, physiopathology, therapy)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome