Arrhythmias: medical and surgical management

The management of pediatric cardiac arrhythmias has evolved rapidly over the past two decades. This includes the development of more effective antiarrhythmic medications as well as catheter- and device-based therapies. Antiarrhythmic medications remain the primary treatment for most acute arrhythmias; however, the long-term use of these medications may be accompanied by adverse effects, which has led to a greater emphasis on non-pharmacologic therapy such as catheter ablation, pacemaker implantation and surgical revision. The purpose of this review is to examine the currently available antiarrhythmic drugs and interventional modalities, and to assess their role in the treatment of arrhythmias in children.