Comparison of transesophageal and intracardiac electrophysiologic studies in characterization of supraventricular tachycardia in pediatric patients

Ricardo A. Samson*, Barbara J. Deal, Janette F. Strasburger, D. Woodrow Benson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives.: This study sought to determine the accuracy of transesophageal electrophysiologic studies in diagnosing and characterizing various mechanisms of supraventricular tachycardia in pediatric patients. Background.: Transesophageal electrophysiologic studies are a relatively noninvasive means of characterizing supraventricular tachycardia. Although widely used, to our knowledge no data exist that directly compare information obtained from transesophageal electrophysiologic studies with that from intracardiac electrophysiologic studies. Methods.: We reviewed the records of 57 pediatric patients undergoing both transesophageal and intracardiac electrophysiologic studies at our institution. The results of these studies were compared with respect to mechanism of tachycardia, localization of accessory atrioventricular (AV) connections (if present) and characterization of anterograde accessory connection conduction properties. Results.: Tachycardia mechanisms were concordant in 56 of 57 patients: orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia in 43, antidromic reciprocating tachycardia in 1, both orthodromic and antidromic tachycardia in 2, AV node reentrant tachycardia in 5, atrial reentrant tachycardia in 4 and ectopic atrial tachycardia in 2. Of 29 patients with orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia using a concealed accessory connection, transesophageal study predicted the accessory connection site through changes induced by transient bundle branch block in 12. By the Bland-Altman method in 14 patients with pre-excitation, the anterograde accessory connection effective refractory period determined by transesophageal study compared favorably with that determined by intracardiac study (mean difference 5.0 ms, limits of agreement -55 and 65 ms). Conclusions.: Transesophageal electrophysiologic studies are a highly accurate means of diagnosing and characterizing various mechanisms of supraventricular tachycardia in pediatric patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)159-163
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology
Volume26
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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