Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Background:</bold> Arrhythmia induced cardiomyopathy (AiCM) is reversible, and catheter ablation has become the standard treatment for most arrhythmias. Given the potential overlap between different forms of cardiomyopathy and the frequent absence of documentation of slow tachycardia before first presentation, the diagnosis of AiCM can often made only in retrospective. <bold>Methods:</bold> A single center retrospective study including patients who had ablation for presumed AiCM after January 2011 to assess the outcomes of ablation, and the final diagnosis. Patient demographics, types of arrhythmias, procedural details and follow up data were obtained from medical records. <bold>Results:</bold> 20 patients (10 female) were included in the study with the following distribution of arrhythmias: Atrial Ectopic Tachycardia (AET) = 8, Permanent Junctional Reciprocating Tachycardia (PJRT) = 6, Ventricular Tachycardia = 3, Premature Ventricular Contraction = 1, Atrial Flutter = 1, Atrioventricular Reciprocating Tachycardia = 1. 13/20 (65%) had successful primary ablation resulting in recovery of function and/or discontinuation of antiarrhythmic medication. In 8/20 (20%) ablation was performed under mechanical circulatory support, 3/20 (15%) had arrhythmia recurrence. Overall long-term control of arrhythmia with ablation alone was achieved in 17/20 (85%). One AET patient showed no recovery of function despite successful ablation, consequently requiring heart transplant due to later confirmed gene-positive cardiomyopathy. Overall, 19 patients (95%) showed normal cardiac function at the end of study period with diagnosis of AiCM. There was one significant complication with AV block due to RF ablation on ECMO in a newborn with PJRT. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> When carefully selected, ablation for pediatric patients in AICM has a high success rate including long term recovery of the ventricular function, even for small patients. Very rarely ventricular function will not recover despite successful ablation as genetic cardiomyopathies can present with secondary arrhythmia. </p>