Ablação com RF de arritmia na infância: registro observacional em 125 crianças / Radiofrequency ablation of childhood arrhythmia: observational registry in 125 children

FUNDAMENTO: Ablação por radiofrequência (ARF) em crianças consiste em uma prática cada vez mais frequente. OBJETIVO: Avaliar, em nossa instituição, os resultados da ARF em crianças com idade abaixo de 15 anos. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas 125 crianças submetidas à ARF entre maio de 1991 a maio de 2010. RESULTADOS: Sessenta e sete (53,6%) crianças eram do sexo masculino, com idade entre 44 dias e 15 anos (média de 8,6 ± 3,3 anos) e peso mediano de 31 kg. Cardiopatia esteve presente em 21 (16,8%) pacientes. A ARF de vias acessórias (VA) foi o procedimento mais comum (62 crianças - 49,6%). A ARF de taquicardias por reentrada nodal (TRN) foi a segunda arritmia mais frequente, em 27 (21,6%), seguida de taquicardias atriais (TA), em 16 (12,8%) e de taquicardias ventriculares (TV) em 8 (6,4%) crianças. Os critérios de sucesso foram alcançados em 86,9%, 96,1%, 80% e 62,5% dos pacientes submetidos à ARF de VA, TRN, TA e TV, respectivamente. Os bloqueios atrioventriculares transitórios (BAVT) ocorreram durante a ARF em 4 (3,2%) e BRD em 7 (5,6%) crianças. Vinte e cinco crianças foram submetidos à nova ARF por insucesso inicial ou recorrência. Durante o seguimento médio de 5,5 ± 3,4 anos, 107 (88,4%) persistiram sem recorrência. Não houve diferença estatística em relação aos resultados e à idade em que o paciente se submeteu ao procedimento. Nenhuma criança apresentou BAVT persistente ou necessitou de marca-passo definitivo. CONCLUSÃO: A ablação por cateter é uma alternativa terapêutica segura e eficiente em crianças com taquicardias recorrentes refratárias ao tratamento clínico.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in children is an increasingly common practice. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, in our institution, the results of RFA in children younger than 15 years. METHODS: A total of 125 children submitted to RFA between May 1991 and May 2010 were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty-seven (53.6%) children were males, aged between 44 days and 15 years (mean 8.6 ± 3.3 years) with median weight of 31 kg. Heart disease was present in 21 (16.8%) patients. The RFA of accessory pathways (AP) was the most common procedure (62 children - 49.6%). The RFA of nodal reentrant tachycardia (NRT) was the second most common arrhythmia in 27 (21.6%), followed by atrial tachycardia (AT) in 16 (12.8%) and ventricular tachycardias (VT) in 8 (6.4%) children. The success criteria were achieved in 86.9%, 96.1%, 80% and 62.5% of patients undergoing RFA of AP, NRT, AT and VT, respectively. Transient AVB occurred during RFA in 4 (3.2%) and LBBB in 7 (5.6%) children. Twenty-five children underwent a new RFA due to initial failure or recurrence. During the mean follow up of 5.5 ± 3.4 years, 107 (88.4%) remained without recurrence. There was no statistical difference regarding the results and the age at which the patient underwent the procedure. No child had persistent AVB or required a permanent pacemaker. CONCLUSION: Catheter ablation is a safe and effective alternative therapy in children with recurrent tachycardias refractory to medical treatment.

Radiofrequency ablation of childhood arrhythmia: observational registry in 125 children.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in children is an increasingly common practice. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, in our institution, the results of RFA in children younger than 15 years. METHODS: A total of 125 children submitted to RFA between May 1991 and May 2010 were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty-seven (53.6%) children were males, aged between 44 days and 15 years (mean 8.6 ± 3.3 years) with median weight of 31 kg. Heart disease was present in 21 (16.8%) patients. The RFA of accessory pathways (AP) was the most common procedure (62 children - 49.6%). The RFA of nodal reentrant tachycardia (NRT) was the second most common arrhythmia in 27 (21.6%), followed by atrial tachycardia (AT) in 16 (12.8%) and ventricular tachycardias (VT) in 8 (6.4%) children. The success criteria were achieved in 86.9%, 96.1%, 80% and 62.5% of patients undergoing RFA of AP, NRT, AT and VT, respectively. Transient AVB occurred during RFA in 4 (3.2%) and LBBB in 7 (5.6%) children. Twenty-five children underwent a new RFA due to initial failure or recurrence. During the mean follow up of 5.5 ± 3.4 years, 107 (88.4%) remained without recurrence. There was no statistical difference regarding the results and the age at which the patient underwent the procedure. No child had persistent AVB or required a permanent pacemaker. CONCLUSION: Catheter ablation is a safe and effective alternative therapy in children with recurrent tachycardias refractory to medical treatment.

Myocarditis in children and detection of viruses in myocardial tissue: implications for immunosuppressive therapy.

BACKGROUND: There is scarce information on the potential benefits of immunosuppression in children with myocarditis and viral genomes in myocardium. We investigated the occurrence of myocarditis in children with a preliminary diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy, the frequency of cardiotropic viruses in the myocardium, and the response to immunosuppression. METHODS: Thirty patients (nine months to 12 years) with left ventricular ejection fraction of 22.8 ± 4.1% were subjected to right cardiac catheterization and endomyocardial biopsy. Specimens were analyzed for the presence of inflammatory elements (Dallas criteria) and viral genome (polymerase chain reaction). Patients with active myocarditis received immunosuppressants (azatioprine and prednisone) and were re-catheterized nine months later. A historical control group of nine patients with myocarditis who did not receive immunosuppressants was included. RESULTS: Active myocarditis was diagnosed in ten patients (five with viral genomes detected). Immunosuppression resulted in a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction from 25.2 ± 2.8% to 45.7 ± 8.6% (versus 20.0 ± 4.0% to 22.0 ± 9.0% in historical controls, p<0.01) and cardiac index from 3.28 ± 0.51 L/min/m(2) to 4.40 ± 0.49 L/min/m(2) (versus 3.50 ± 0.40 L/min/m(2) to 3.70 ± 0.50 L/min/m(2) in controls, p<0.01), regardless of the presence of viral genomes (p=0.98 and p=0.22, respectively for the two variables). No relevant clinical events were observed. Non-inflammatory cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in 20 patients (seven with viral genomes). While on conventional therapy, there were four deaths and three assignments to transplantation, and no improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction in the remaining ones (22.5 ± 3.6% to 27.5 ± 10.6%). CONCLUSION: Children with chronic myocarditis seem to benefit from immunosuppressive therapy, regardless of the presence of viral genome in the myocardium.

Prognostic value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in a non-beta-blocker therapy setting.

BACKGROUND: Peak oxygen consumption and resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are independent predictors of survival in adult heart failure (HF) patients. AIM: To evaluate these factors in children. METHODS: We prospectively studied 31 children with NYHA class I to III HF (mean LVEF 26+/-10%; mean age 8.6+/-1.9 years). All had dilated cardiomyopathy and were awaiting heart transplantation. A cardiopulmonary treadmill exercise test was performed and LVEF determined by radionuclide ventriculography. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 1282 days, 20 children reached at least one end-point (death or heart transplantation). Clinical data from the 11 children without events and the 20 children with events are as follows: NYHA class 1+/-0 vs. 2+/-0.9 (p<0.01); SBP 118+/-17 vs. 102+/-16 (p=0.01); DBP 70+/-10 vs. 61+/-10 (p=0.02); heart rate 165+/-22 vs. 148+/-22 (NS); double-product 19+/-4 vs. 15+/-4 (p=0.01); end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (PetCO2) 35+/-5 vs. 30+/-6 (NS); oxygen consumption (VO2) 22+/-5.4 vs. 18.3+/-5.7 (NS); exercise time 19+/-4 vs. 13+/-6 (p<0.003), and LVEF 31+/-8 vs. 22+/-10 (p=0.02). These variables all correlated with prognosis on univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, only decreasing exercise time and LVEF were predictive of events during follow-up (p<0.001 and 0.04). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that reduction in LVEF and exercise tolerance in children with heart failure is predictive of functional status.

Bi-atrial subxiphoid epicardial pacemaker in superior vena cava syndrome.

A patient with a bi-atrial-ventricular permanent pacemaker due to paroxystic atrial fibrillation associated to sinus bradycardia, in chronic use of oral anticoagulant, presented clinical signs of superior vena cava syndrome. Digital subtraction venography showed total obstruction of the right brachiocephalic venous trunk and severe stenosis of the connection of the left trunk to the superior vena cava. The therapeutic approach consisted of complete removal of transvenous system followed by re-implant of the bi-atrial-ventricular system using an epicardial subxiphoid access with fluoroscopic assistance.

Marcapasso bi-atrial epicárdico subxifóide na obstrução da veia cava superior / Bi-atrial subxiphoid epicardial pacemaker in superior vena cava syndrome / Bi-atrial subxiphoid epicardial pacemaker in superior vena cava syndrome

Um paciente portador de marcapasso definitivo bi-atrial-ventricular por fibrilação atrial paroxística e bradicardia sinusal, em uso crônico de anticoagulante oral, apresentou sinais clínicos da síndrome da veia cava superior. A venografia por subtração digital mostrou obstrução total do tronco braquiocefálico venoso direito e grande dificuldade de fluxo sangüíneo da veia inominada para a veia cava superior. A abordagem terapêutica constou da remoção completa do sistema transvenoso seguida de reimplante do sistema bi-atrial-ventricular por técnica epimiocárdica pela via subxifóide assistida por fluoroscopia.

A patient with a bi-atrial-ventricular permanent pacemaker due to paroxystic atrial fibrillation associated to sinus bradycardia, in chronic use of oral anticoagulant, presented clinical signs of superior vena cava syndrome. Digital subtraction venography showed total obstruction of the right brachiocephalic venous trunk and severe stenosis of the connection of the left trunk to the superior vena cava. The therapeutic approach consisted of complete removal of transvenous system followed by re-implant of the bi-atrial-ventricular system using an epicardial subxiphoid access with fluoroscopic assistance

Taquicardia supraventricular em uma criança / Supraventricular tachycardia in a child

Na presente edição de Pediatria São Paulo é apresentado um caso de taquicardia supraventricular tratado por pediatras, o que ocorre com parcela dos casos. As taquicardias supraventriculares (TSV) são as arritmias sintomáticass mais comuns da criança. A frqueência ventricular média pode variar entre 120 a 330 batimentos por minuto (BPM), com média em torno de 240 bpm. São aspecto eletrofisiológico, as TSV ocorrem por mecanismo de reentrada ou são desencadeadas por foco automático.A TSV pode sser bem tolerada...

Transplante cardíaco no neonato e na infância: resultados a médio prazo / Heart transplantation in neonates and children: intermediate-term results

OBJECTIVE: To assess intermediate-term outcome in children who have undergone orthotopic heart transplantation. METHODS: We carried out a longitudinal and prospective study between October '92 and June '99 comprising 20 patients with ages ranging from 12 days to 7 years (mean of 2.8 years). We employed a double immunosuppression protocol with cyclosporine and azathioprine and induction therapy with polyclonal antithymocyte serum. Survival and complications resulting from the immunosuppression protocol were analyzed. RESULTS: The double immunosuppression protocol and the induction therapy with polyclonal antithymocyte serum resulted in an actuarial survival curve of 90 per cent and 78.2 per cent at 1 and 6 years, respectively, with a mean follow-up period of 3.6 years. One patient died due to acute rejection 40 days after transplantation; another patient died 2 years after transplantation due to lymphoproliferative disorder; a third patient died because of primary failure of the graft; and a fourth patient died due to bronchopneumonia. The major complications were as follows: acute rejection, infection, nephrotoxicity, and systemic hypertension. The means of rejection and infection episodes per patient were 2.9 and 3.4, respectively. After one year of transplantation, a slight reduction in the creatinine clearance and systemic hypertension were observed in 7 (38.9 per cent) patients. CONCLUSION: Heart transplantation made life possible for those patients with complex congenital heart diseases and cardiomyopathies in refractory congestive heart failure constituting a therapeutical option for this group of patients in the terminal phase.

As contradicoes entre as concepcoes de progresso e vida na modernidade

Este artigo tem por objetivo discutir a concepcao de progresso e suas contradicoes na modernidade, dentro de uma concepcao voltada a Psicologia Social. Partindo do conceito de modernidade e enfocando a tcnologia como um elemento basico de seu desenvovimento, o progresso existente na sociedade moderna atua de forma contraditoria contra o desenvolvimento das potencialidades humanas. Neste sentido, sao diagnosticados alguns fatores psicologicos basicos que sao consequencias do modo de vida dsta sociedade, e que fornecem novas orientacoes para intervencao em Psicologia Social.

Avaliaçäo hemodinâmica e evoluçäo clínica de crianças portadoras de cardiomiopatia dilatada grave candidatas a transplante cardíaco / Hemodynamic evaluation and clinical outcome of children candidates for heart transplantation with severe dilated cardiomyipathy

Objetivo - Estudar o perfil dos parâmetros hemodinâmicos e a evolução clínica de crianças candidatas a transplante cardíaco, portadoras de cardiomiopatia grave. Métodos - Foram 24 crianças, com idade entre 4 meses e 10 anos e 8 meses (média de 3,7+2,5 anos), no período de fevereiro/92 a maio/96, submetidas a estudo hemodinâmico e medidos os seguintes parâmetros: débito cardíaco, pressão média de artéria pulmonar (PMAP) e pressão capilar pulmonar. Foram calculados o índice de resistência vascular pulmonar (IRVP) e gradiente de pressão transpulmonar (GPT). Resultados - Do ponto de vista evolutivo, 10 (41,6 por cento) crianças foram transplantadas (grupo A), 5 (20,8 por cento) aguardam o transplante (grupo B) e 9 (37,6 por cento) faleceram (grupo C). Observou-se que a média das idades dos pacientes do grupo B foi significativamente menor que do grupo C. Dos dados hemodinâmicos, a PMAP, GTP e IRVP apresentaram médias significativamente menores no grupo A em relação ao grupo C. Conclusão - O perfil hemodinâmico de crianças candidatas ao transplante cardíaco mostrou-se compatível ao quadro clínico de insuficiência cardíaca grave. A idade foi o único fator que diferenciou o grupo B e C (p=0,036). O IRVP, PMAP e o GTP foram fatores que diferenciam de modo significativo o grupo A e o grupo C (p=0,010; p=0,044 e p=0,023, respectivamente). Quanto maior a idade no momento da indicação do transplante na criança, pior foi seu prognóstico.

Transplante cardíaco neonatal e infantil / Heart Transplantation in Neonates and Infants

PURPOSE: Heart transplantation has offered children with complex congenital heart diseases and severe cardiomyopathies a chance for survival. The present article was written to show the three year experience of this procedure at the Instituto do Coração-HCFMUSP. METHODS: The methodology used was based on heart transplant indication criteria, inclusion criteria for donors, postoperative management, immunosuppression and prophylaxis as well as treatment of potential complications. RESULTS: From November 1992 to November 1995, 11 children, aged 12 days old to six years (mean 2.5 years) underwent transplantation. Sixty percent of recipients were male; weight ranged from 3.5 to 17.8 kg (mean 10.3 kg). The mean age of donors was 4.4 years (a range of three weeks to ten years), 80 male, weight ranging from 3.8 to 20 kg (median 14.3 kg). The survival rate was 91 and the remaining 10 children are doing well. The most important complications were systemic hypertension, acute rejection and infection. The number of rejections and infections per patient were 3.5 and 4.7 episodes, respectively. The follow-up was between one month to three years (average 16 months). CONCLUSION: In this experience, heart transplantation has given an additional opportunity for children with complex congenital heart diseases and cardiomyopathies, with a survival rate of 91 in three years.

Características do transplante cardíaco neonatal e infantil / Characteristics of heart transplantation in neonates and infants

OBJETIVO: Relatar as características do transplante cardíaco neonatal e pediátrico em crianças portadoras de cardiopatias complexas e cardiomiopatias refratárias à terapêutica convencional. O presente trabalho mostra a experiência de três anos e meio deste procedimento no Instituto do Coraçao HC-FMUSP. MÉTODOS: A metodologia empregada consistiu-se na técnica cirúrgica nos casos de cardiopatias congênitas, critérios de indicaçao para o transplante e viabilidade do doador, manuseio pós-operatório, imunosupressao, prevençao e tratamento de potenciais complicaçoes. RESULTADOS: De novembro de 1992 a junho de 1996, 14 crianças foram transplantadas com idade de 12 dias a seis anos (média de 2,2 anos); 57 por cento do sexo masculino; peso de 3,5 Kg a 17,8 Kg (média de 10,3Kg). Os doadores tinham de 21 dias a dez anos de idade (média de 4,4 anos); 80 por cento do sexo masculino; peso variando de 3,8 a 20Kg (média de 14,3Kg). A sobrevida foi de 85,7 por cento (2 óbitos em 14 pacientes). O tempo de seguimento foi de um mês a três anos e seis meses (média de 16 meses). As principais complicaçoes foram hipertensao arterial sistêmica, rejeiçao aguda e infecçao. O número de rejeiçao por paciente foi de 3,5 episódios e de infecçao foi de 3,3 episódios. CONCLUSAO: O transplante cardíaco consistiu-se em promissora opçao terapêutica com sobrevida de 85,7 por cento a médio prazo.

Cardiomiopatias na infância / Children cardiomyopathies

As afecçöes primárias do músculo cardíaco encontradas na criança apresentam manifestaçöes fisiopatológicas e hemodinâmicas semelhantes às do adulto. Contudo, algumas peculiaridades devem ser ressaltadas em relaçäo à expressäo clínica, fatores envolvidos na patogênese e aspectos evolutivos. Nesta revisäo, propöe-se inicialmente um breve enfoque das formas hipertróficas e restritivas das cardiomiopatias e, a seguir, exposiçäo mais ampla das dilatadas, com ênfase especial para a miocardite ativa (MA). Seräo abordados essencialmente os aspectos mais frequentes observados na clínica.

Drogas imunossupressoras no tratamento da miocardite ativa na criança: avaliaçäo hemodinâmica / Imunosuppressive therapy in the treatment of active myocardites in children: hemodynamic evaluation

Objetivo Analisar parâmetros hemodinâmicos (fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE), índice cardíaco (IC), pressão média de capilar pulmonar (PCP) e diâmetro diastólico do ventrículo esquerdo (DdVE) em um grupo de crianças portadoras de miocardite ativa (MA), diagnosticadas através de biopsia endomiocárdica, submetidas à terapéutica convencional e a diferentes drogas imunossupressoras (prednisona isolada ou prednisona associada à azatioprina ou ciclosporina). Casuística e Métodos Quarenta e quatro crianças de um grupo de portadores de miocardiopatia dilatada de importante repercussão clínica. Vinte do sexo masculino e 22 do feminino, com idades entre 10 meses e 15 anos (mediana 1,3 anos). Foram submetidas a exames clínico e laboratoriais onde se obtiveram os parâmetros hemodinâmicos. Foram aistribuídas alternadamente em 4 grupos, de acordo com sua admissão no hospital e submetidos ao seguinte esquema terapêutico: grupo I (9 pacientes)medicação convencional (MC); grupo II(12 pacientes)MC + prednisona; grupo III(16 pacientes)MC + prednisona + azatioPrina; grupo IV (13 pacientes) MC + prednisona + ciclosporina. Os parâmetros foram obtidos pré e pós-tratamento, nos 4 grupos em estudo...

Purpose To analyse hemodynamic parameters (left ventricles ejection fraction, cardiac index, mean pulmonary wedge pressure and left ventricle diastolic diameter, in a group of children with active myocarditis (diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy) pre and post treatment with conventional therapy and immunosuppressive drugs (isolated prednisone or prednisone associated with azathioprine or cyclosporine). Patients and Methods Forty-four pediatric patients with active myocarditis were studied. Twenty males and 24 females from 10 months to 15 years old (median = 1.3 years). All patients were submitted to hemodynamic study and endomyocardial biopsy. The hemodynamie parameters mentioned above were analysed before and after the proposed therapy. The patients were distributed in group according to the admission in the protocol, group I (9 pts)conventional therapy (CT); group II (12 pts)CT plus preanisone; group III (16 pts)CT plus prednisone plus azathioprine; group IV (13 pts)CT plus prednisone plus cyclosporine...

Resposta histológica do miocárdio a diferentes esquemas imunossupressores em pacientes com cardiomiopatia dilatada e diagnóstico de miocardite à biópsia endomiocárdica / Histological response of the myocardium to different immunosuppressor schedule in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and diagnosis of myocarditis at endomyocardial biopsy

Verificar a evoluçäo histológica do miocárdio em crianças portadoras de miocardite ativa submetidas ou näo à imunossupressäo, através de biópsias antes e depois de tratamento. Quatro grupos submetidos a diferentes esquemas de imunossupressäo e um grupo controle que recebeu somente drogas anticongestivas: grupo I - controle (4 pacientes), grupo II - prednisona (5 pacientes), grupo III - prednisona e azatioprina (9 pacientes), grupo IV - prednisona e ciclosporina (5 pacientes). Nenhum paciente do grupo I apresentou melhora histológica em período médio de 9 meses, enquanto que a melhora histológica ocorreu em 20% dos pacientes do grupo II, 67% do grupo III e 80% do grupo IV. Apenas pacientes do grupo III e IV apresentaram aspecto de miocardite em resoluçäo, após tratamento. A terapêutica imunossupressora com azatioprina ou ciclosporina, associada à prednisona, propiciou diminuiçäo da atividade da miocardite em maior proporçäo de casos do que o verificado nos tratados só com corticóide ou ainda sem imunossupressäo

PurposeTo analyse the histological evolution of endomyocardial biopsies from children with active myocarditis, submitted or not to immunosuppressive therapy. Patients and MethodsFour groups of patients were compared, clinically treated as follows: group Ianticongestive drugs (4 patients); group IIprednisone (5 patients); group III prednisone plus azathioprine (9 patients); group IVprednisone and cyclosporine (5 patients). ResultsNo patient from group I presented any histological improvement during a mean period of 9 months, while evident histological improvement occurred in 25% of patients from group I, 67% from group III and 80% from group IV. The microscopical aspect of resolving myocarditis was only observed in patients from groups III and IV, after treatment. Conclusion The immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine or cyclosporine plus prednisone leads to decrease of active myocarditis intensity in a higher proportion of cases than the treatment with only prednisone or no immunosuppressive drugs.