An algorithm for topical electrocardiographic diagnosis of ventricular arrhythmias in children

To develop a topical diagnostic algorithm, the authors analyzed surface ECG in 243 children, including 139 boys, with ventricular arrhythmia. The children’s age was 5 to 17 years (mean 13.4±3.1 years). The found ECG features were compared with the results of endocardial mapping and radiofrequency ablation. Based on the most informative criteria, the authors developed an algorithm for the ECG diagnosis of ventricular arrhythmias in children, which could locate the arrhythmia focus prior to interventional treatment. The most informative electrocardiographic characteristics for the topical diagnosis of ventricular arrhythmias in children were the morphology of the QRS complex in lead V1 and its duration in lead V2. The morphology of the QRS complex in lead I, its duration in lead II, the amplitude of the R wave in lead III, and the ratio of R/S wave amplitudes in lead V3 were proposed to be used as additional characteristics. The algorithm for the ECG diagnosis of ventricular arrhythmias in children makes it possible to assume the localization of the arrhythmogenic focus with an accuracy of 90% and to carry out a directed endocardial mapping, which reduces the duration of radiofrequency ablation and the radiological burden sustained by the child and the staff.