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Atrial arrhythmia surgery in congenital heart disease

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Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Atrial reentrant tachycardias are a common source of morbidity in children with significant structural heart disease, especially following cardiac surgery. Preexisting atrial geometry combined with the hemodynamic effect of a congenital cardiac defect and electrophysiological alterations caused by surgical lesions can create large anatomic-functional barriers to conduction, allowing reentrant wavefronts to flourish. Elucidation of the genesis of reentrant arrhythmias in children has led to catheterization and surgical therapies. The primary goals of these procedures are to restore synchronous atrioventricular conduction and eliminate hemodynamically significant residual physiologic lesions. Debilitating arrhythmias may be cured, and patients have an improvement in functional class.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Saint Louis Children’s Hospital, Suite 5S50, One Children’s Place, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Sanjiv K. Gandhi

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  1. Sanjiv K. Gandhi
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Correspondence to Sanjiv K. Gandhi.

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Gandhi, S.K. Atrial arrhythmia surgery in congenital heart disease. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 20, 119–125 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-007-9181-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-007-9181-2

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