Recommendations for Pediatric RF Ablation

ppcguy <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

My 4 year old son was diagnosed within hours of birth as having WPW.
So pretty much all his life he has been treated with Inderal.

During out last visit to the cardiologist, Dr. Fishberger of
Schneider's Children's Hospital told us that my son was at a good age
to consider the ablation. It would mean finally getting him off the
meds. While the meds have never exhibited any side effects with him,
we always hoped that someday we could get him off of them.

Where the "Best" places to have the procedure done in the US?
Where the "Best" places to have the procedure done on the east coast?
Which doctors at these locations to consider?

RFCA (radiofrequency catheter ablation) is now commonly performed in
pediatric cardiac centers. As I am sure that Dr Fishberger has told you,
the success rate is extremely high (usually between 90-98% in the right
hands). In addition to trying to get rid of the pathway, it is important
(at some point) to determine whether the WPW presents any possibility of
dangerous arrhythmias when he is older.

Although all procedures have risks, these can be reduced by having the
procedure performed by someone who is experienced in routinely performing
it and in a pediatric institution that is designed to handle children
undergoing interventional procedures.

So look for a pediatric electrophysiologist who performs many
electrophysiology studies and ablations. Dr Fishberger has a long
experience with the procedure and is known for performing them at a number
of institutions along the east coast (and is a very nice person as well!).

-- TC, md
Pediatric cardiology and electrophysiology

It is good to hear that Dr. Fishberger is very experienced in
performing this procedure. While he is not my son's primary
cardiologist (Dr. A. Romano), we did meet with him to discuss the
possibility of having the procedure done.

Quoted message said:

hands). In addition to trying to get rid of the pathway, it is important
(at some point) to determine whether the WPW presents any possibility of
dangerous arrhythmias when he is older.

The dangerous arrhythmias you are referring to in your response...are
you suggesting that even with the extra pathway ablated the arrythmia
may still persist? My understanding is, assuming any extra pathways
are destoyed, it will be as if he never had this condition.

Danny

MD said:

ppcguy <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

My 4 year old son was diagnosed within hours of birth as having WPW.
So pretty much all his life he has been treated with Inderal.

During out last visit to the cardiologist, Dr. Fishberger of
Schneider's Children's Hospital told us that my son was at a good age
to consider the ablation. It would mean finally getting him off the
meds. While the meds have never exhibited any side effects with him,
we always hoped that someday we could get him off of them.

Where the "Best" places to have the procedure done in the US?
Where the "Best" places to have the procedure done on the east coast?
Which doctors at these locations to consider?

RFCA (radiofrequency catheter ablation) is now commonly performed in
pediatric cardiac centers. As I am sure that Dr Fishberger has told you,
the success rate is extremely high (usually between 90-98% in the right
hands). In addition to trying to get rid of the pathway, it is important
(at some point) to determine whether the WPW presents any possibility of
dangerous arrhythmias when he is older.

Although all procedures have risks, these can be reduced by having the
procedure performed by someone who is experienced in routinely performing
it and in a pediatric institution that is designed to handle children
undergoing interventional procedures.

So look for a pediatric electrophysiologist who performs many
electrophysiology studies and ablations. Dr Fishberger has a long
experience with the procedure and is known for performing them at a number
of institutions along the east coast (and is a very nice person as well!).

-- TC, md
Pediatric cardiology and electrophysiology

ppcguy <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hands). In addition to trying to get rid of the pathway, it is
important (at some point) to determine whether the WPW presents any
possibility of dangerous arrhythmias when he is older.

The dangerous arrhythmias you are referring to in your response...are
you suggesting that even with the extra pathway ablated the arrythmia
may still persist? My understanding is, assuming any extra pathways
are destoyed, it will be as if he never had this condition.

If the pathway is ablated, he won't be able to have any tachycardias that
involve the pathway. Depending on the particular conduction properties of
the pathway, some present the potential for facilitating dangerous
arrhythmias that are different from the garden variety ones that the
pathways usually cause. So performing the electrophysiology study and
ablation will serve a dual purpose.

People with WPW can have a slightly increased risk for having other types
of arrhythmias (such as atrial fibrillation) over their lifetime, but this
isn't anything that needs to be dealt with. For the most part, your
understanding is correct: ablating the pathway would normalize his heart
conduction.

-- TC, md
Pediatric cardiology and electrophysiology