All issues > Volume 34(6); 1991

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1991;34(6):796-804. Published online June 30, 1991.

Clinical study of supraventricular tachycardia in children.

Eui Kyung Chung¹, Yun Seok Suh¹, Joo Won Lee¹, Soon Kyum Kim¹

¹Department of Peditrics, Collage of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

Received: September 28, 1990;  Accepted: October 28, 1990.

Abstract

Supraventricular tachycardia is the most symptomatic dysrhythmia encountered in infants and children. Recognition of the dysrhythmias is of great clinical importance, since increasing number of infants will develop congestive heart failure and occasionally circulatory collapse. Retrospective study was done in 17 patients with supraventricular tachycardia, who were admitted to our hospital from 1983 to 1989. The results were as follows: 1) 47 percent of our patients with supraventricular tachycardia were 4 months of age or younger. 2) The sex of age group less than 4 months were all males, whereas the male to female sex ratio greater than 4 months was almost equal. 3) There was no statistical relationship between predisposing factors and age of onset. 4) Patients with predisposing factors were more prone to having congestive heart failure, but it was not statistically significant (p<0.1). 5) Congestive heart failure developed more frequently in those whose age of onset were 4 months or younger and in those with more rapid heart rate (p<0.05). 6) Among the total 17 patients, only 1 patient responded well to vagal maneuver. 7) 9 patients aged less than 1 year were treated with intravenous digoxin; 7 was treated successfully only with digoxin, 1 with propranolol combined therapy, and 1 with verapamil combined therapy. 2 patients aged less than 1 year and 4 patients aged more than 1 year were treated with intravenous verapamil; all were treated successfully without side effects. 8) Follow up studies did not show any significant risk factors influencing the recurrence of supraventricular tachycardia.

Keywords :Supraventricular tachycardia