Ablation of Ventricular Preexcitation to Cure Preexcitation-Induced Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Infants: Diagnosis and Outcome.

BACKGROUND

To investigate the clinical features of preexcitation-induced dilated cardiomyopathy in infants and evaluate safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFCA) in these patients.

METHODS

This study included 10 infants (4 males and 6 females) with mean age of 6.78±3.14 months, mean weight of 8.11±1.71 kg, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 32.6±10.34%. Tachycardiomyopathy has been excluded and all patients were refractory to the drugs. All of these 10 patients underwent RFCA.

RESULTS

All the accessory pathways in these patients were located on right free wall and the acute success rate was 100%. No complication associated with the procedure occurred. In one case preexcitation recurred and was ablated successfully during the second attempt. There were 3 patients with mild cardiac dysfunction (LVEF, 40≤LVEF<50%), 3 with moderate (30≤LVEF<40%), and 4 with severe cardiac dysfunction (LVEF<30%, the ages were 3, 6, 7, and 10 months, respectively). The time for LVEF normalization was 1 week, 1 to 3 months, and ≥3 months, respectively. In 3 of the 4 severe cardiac dysfunction patients, the LVEF normalized at 3, 6, and 12 months after ablation, the LVEF of the remaining case did not recover at 3 months and is still being followed.

CONCLUSIONS

Ventricular preexcitation could lead to severe cardiac dysfunction during infancy. RFCA may be a safe and effective treatment option in right free wall accessory pathways, even in infants with cardiac dysfunction. Cases of more severe cardiac dysfunction might require a longer time for LVEF recovery after RFCA.