Electrophysiologic surgery in patients with congenital heart disease

Abstract

As patients with congenital heart disease increase in number and age, arrhythmia is becoming a more prevalent and important clinical problem. Although catheter-based therapy has revolutionized the management of arrhythmia, there remains an increasing patient population with congenital heart disease presenting for repair or reoperation with associated atrial or ventricular arrhythmias. Arrhythmia ablation may be safely and effectively included as an adjunct to repair of underlying structural cardiac lesions. Successful electrophysiologic surgery requires accurate preoperative characterization of the arrhythmia.