Radiofrequency catheter ablation successfully treated 4 infants with medically refractory arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy, with 100% procedural success, no complications, and normalized cardiac function.
Case Report (n=4)
Does radiofrequency catheter ablation improve cardiac function and size in infants with medically refractory arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy?
Radiofrequency catheter ablation appears safe and effective for treating medically refractory, right-sided, pathway-mediated, arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy in infants, leading to complete functional recovery.
Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is an established treatment for paediatric arrhythmias in children weighing >15 kg, yet its role in infants with arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy remains less defined. This case series evaluates the efficacy and safety of RFCA in four infants (aged ≤1 year) with arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy through a retrospective review of clinical profiles, procedural data and outcomes. All patients had right-sided accessory pathways, with three showing atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia and one pre-excitation-related cardiomyopathy. Each infant had failed pharmacotherapy, and presented with heart failure and cardiac enlargement. RFCA was successfully performed in all cases without complications. Within 1-6 months postprocedure, both cardiac function and size normalised in every patient. These findings support RFCA as a safe and effective treatment for medically refractory, right-sided, pathway-mediated, arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy in infants, highlighting its potential for complete functional recovery.
Li et al. (Tue,) conducted a case report in Arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy (n=4). Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) was evaluated on Procedural success, complications, and normalization of cardiac function and size. Radiofrequency catheter ablation successfully treated 4 infants with medically refractory arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy, with 100% procedural success, no complications, and normalized cardiac function.