Atrial flutter and fibrillation in the young patient without congenital heart disease

The diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of atrial flutter in children: a case report

BACKGROUND

Palpitations represent a common cause for consultation in the pediatric Emergency Department (ED). Unlike adults, palpitations in children are less frequently dependent from the heart, recognizing other causes.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 11-year-old male came to our pediatric ED for epigastric pain, vomiting and palpitations. During the previous 6 month the patient was affected by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus). Electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed supraventricular tachycardia. Therefore, adenosine was administered unsuccessfully. The administration of adenosine, however, allowed us to make diagnosis of atypical atrial flutter. Multiple attempts at both electrical cardioversion, transesophageal atrial overdrive, and drug monotherapy were unsuccessful in our patient. Consequently, a triple therapy with amiodarone, flecainide, and beta-blocker was gradually designed to control the arrhythmic pattern with the restoration of a left upper atrial rhythm. There was not any evidence of sinus rhythm in the patient clinical history.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study underlines the rarity of this type of dysrhythmia in childhood and the difficulties in diagnosis and management, above all in a patient who has never showed sinus rhythm. Raising awareness of all available treatment options is essential for a better management of dysrhythmia in children.

Atrial Flutter-Unique Arrhythmia in Neonatal Population, Presentation of 3 Cases

BACKGROUND

Atrial flutter (AFL) is an uncommon arrhythmia in the pediatric population. It is defined as fast ordered atrial depolarization (about 250-500 beats/min). It occurs mainly in children with congenital heart defects; however, it may also manifest in fetuses and infants with an anatomically healthy heart. In neonates, AFL is most often revealed within the first 2 days after birth.

CLINICAL FINDINGS

In this case report, we present 3 neonates without complex congenital heart defects with AFL, along with the description of the course, diagnostic and therapeutic processes depending on the clinical condition of a child, and response to treatment.

PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS

Symptoms in this group of patients are nonspecific, that is, tachypnea, unwillingness to eat, and fatigue while feeding. The diagnostic process included thorough electro- and echocardiographic assessments. Each child was treated individually due to a different cause of arrhythmia and comorbidities.

INTERVENTIONS

Invasive (electrical cardioversion) and pharmacological methods were used in treatment to achieve conversion to sinus rhythm.

OUTCOMES

One patient required electrical cardioversion, one was treated with amiodarone and digoxin, and one infant received amiodarone. All children achieved conversion to sinus rhythm.

PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

During the follow-up, each child maintained sinus rhythm, which shows that in the neonatal group, it is a unique, but well-controlled, arrhythmia once conversion to sinus rhythm is achieved.

Electrophysiological Characteristics and Outcomes of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrial Flutter in Children with or Without Congenital Heart Disease

There are scarce studies on radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial flutter (AFL) in the pediatric population. This study therefore aimed to investigate the clinical features and RFCA of AFL in children with or without congenital heart disease. Data from 72 consecutive children (44 males; mean age, 6.1 ± 3.8 [0.9-15.0] years; and mean weight, 23.6 ± 13.9 [8.1-72.0] kg) undergoing RFCA for AFL from 2009 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-three patients had normal cardiac structure and 39 had congenital heart disease (CHD) of whom 29 had undergone surgical repair and developed AFL at a mean of 3.1 ± 2.5 years later. Fifty-nine patients (84%) presented with persistent AFL. Five patients (7%) had cardiac dysfunction with LVEF of 30-48%, which normalized after ablation. Overall, acute success rate of ablation was 99% and recurrence rate was 18% at 0.5-10 years of follow-up. No procedure-related complications were identified. All 33 patients with normal cardiac structure had cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent AFL. Among patients who had undergone corrective surgery for CHD, 15 (52%) had CTI-dependent AFL, 4 (14%) had surgical incisional scar reentrant AFL and the remaining 10 (34%) had both CTI-dependent and scar reentrant AFL. Success rate (100% vs. 97%, P = 1.0000) and recurrence rate (21% vs. 16%, P = 0.7008) were similar between patients with and without CHD. Overall, sick sinus syndrome (SSS) was found in 42% (30/72) of patients with AFL, with an incidence of 39% (13/33) among patients with normal cardiac structure and 59% (17/29) among those who underwent surgery for congenital defects. Permanent pacemakers (PM) were implanted in 53% (16/30) of patients with SSS after ablation. RFCA therefore appeared efficacious and safe for treatment of pediatric AFL. The mechanisms underlying AFL after corrective surgery for CHD are complex, including CTI-dependent macro-reentrant, scar reentrant, or a combination of both. SSS is not rare among pediatric AFL cases, with approximately half of patients needing PM implantation.

Abordagem de Flutter Atrial Neonatal: Uma Série de Casos

Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as opções terapêuticas dos pacientes com flutter atrial (FLA) neonatal, considerando os métodos diagnósticos disponíveis e o prognóstico desses pacientes. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo através da revisão dos prontuários de uma série de sete pacientes com fibrilação atrial (FA) diagnosticada durante o período fetal ou neonatal. O tempo de seguimento desses pacientes variou de 7 meses a 3 anos e 8 meses (média: 1 ano). Os dados clínicos para o diagnóstico incluíram frequência cardíaca sustentada superior a 180 bpm, que foi confirmada em todos os pacientes por um eletrocardiograma de 12 derivações. Resultados: Quatro (57,1%) dos sete pacientes estudados eram do sexo masculino. A maioria dos pacientes revelou arritmia cardíaca durante o período intrauterino, quando examinados por ultrassom fetal no terceiro trimestre de gestação (5 pacientes, ou seja 71,2%). Apenas à mãe do Paciente 2 foi administrada digoxina antes do parto. A taxa atrial da taquiarritmia revelou uma média de 375 bpm, com um aumento de até 500 bpm. A condução atrioventricular apresentou uma relação de 2:1 em todos os pacientes, com variações de 3:1 e 4:1 observadas nos Pacientes 1, 3 e 6. A frequência ventricular variou de 188 a 250 bpm. Todos os pacientes revelaram características típicas e anti-horárias do eletrocardiograma. A cardioversão elétrica sincronizada foi o tratamento de escolha em 6 pacientes (85,7%), com uma dose de 1 J/kg. Conclusão: Diagnóstico precoce, tratamento prévio e cardioversão elétrica sincronizada indicam um excelente prognóstico, e o tratamento de manutenção prolongada pode ser desnecessário.

Abordagem de Flutter Atrial Neonatal: Uma Série de Casos

Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as opções terapêuticas dos pacientes com flutter atrial (FLA) neonatal, considerando os métodos diagnósticos disponíveis e o prognóstico desses pacientes. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo através da revisão dos prontuários de uma série de sete pacientes com fibrilação atrial (FA) diagnosticada durante o período fetal ou neonatal. O tempo de seguimento desses pacientes variou de 7 meses a 3 anos e 8 meses (média: 1 ano). Os dados clínicos para o diagnóstico incluíram frequência cardíaca sustentada superior a 180 bpm, que foi confirmada em todos os pacientes por um eletrocardiograma de 12 derivações. Resultados: Quatro (57,1%) dos sete pacientes estudados eram do sexo masculino. A maioria dos pacientes revelou arritmia cardíaca durante o período intrauterino, quando examinados por ultrassom fetal no terceiro trimestre de gestação (5 pacientes, ou seja 71,2%). Apenas à mãe do Paciente 2 foi administrada digoxina antes do parto. A taxa atrial da taquiarritmia revelou uma média de 375 bpm, com um aumento de até 500 bpm. A condução atrioventricular apresentou uma relação de 2:1 em todos os pacientes, com variações de 3:1 e 4:1 observadas nos Pacientes 1, 3 e 6. A frequência ventricular variou de 188 a 250 bpm. Todos os pacientes revelaram características típicas e anti-horárias do eletrocardiograma. A cardioversão elétrica sincronizada foi o tratamento de escolha em 6 pacientes (85,7%), com uma dose de 1 J/kg. Conclusão: Diagnóstico precoce, tratamento prévio e cardioversão elétrica sincronizada indicam um excelente prognóstico, e o tratamento de manutenção prolongada pode ser desnecessário.

Neonatal Atrial Flutter Approach: A Case Series

Objective: This study set out to analyze the therapeutic options of patients with neonatal atrial flutter (AFL), considering the diagnostic methods available and the prognosis of these patients. Methodology: A retrospective study was performed by reviewing the medical records of a series of seven patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosed during fetal or neonatal period. The follow-up time of these patients ranged from 7 months to 3 years and 8 months (mean: 1 year). The clinical data for the diagnosis included sustained heart rate greater than 180 bpm, which was confirmed in all patients by a 12-lead electrocardiogram. Results: Four (57.1%) of the 7 patients studied were male. Most of the patients revealed cardiac arrhythmia during the intrauterine period when screened by fetal ultrasound in the third trimester of gestation (5 patients, i.e. 71.2%). Only the mother of Patient 2 was administered digoxin before childbirth. The atrial rate of the tachyarrhythmia revealed a mean of 375 bpm, with an increase of up to 500 bpm. Atrioventricular conduction presented a 2:1 ratio in all patients, with variations of 3:1 and 4:1 observed in Patients 1, 3 and 6. The ventricular rate ranged from 188 to 250 bpm. All patients revealed typical and counter-clockwise electrocardiogram characteristics. Synchronized electrical cardioversion was the treatment of choice in 6 patients (85.7%), with a dose of 1 J/kg. Conclusion: Early diagnosis, prior treatment, and synchronized electrical cardioversion indicate an excellent prognosis, and prolonged maintenance treatment may be unnecessary.