A follow-up analysis of cardiac function and complications in pediatric patients with permanent epicardial pacing

Background Nowadays, the number of pediatric patients receiving permanent pacemaker implantations is increasing. However, there is very little relevant, long-term follow-up analysis carried out in China. Methods Clinical information from pediatric patients who underwent epicardial permanent pacemaker implantation from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2017 in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital was collected. Eligible patients received 12-lead electrocardiograms and echocardiography preoperatively and postoperatively, as well as programming control during their follow-up. Meanwhile, complications were treated and analyzed. Results A total of98 pediatric patients with permanent epicardial pacing were included in the study, including 60 males and 38 females. The age of patients who underwent surgery for the first time ranged from 8 days to 14 years old( the median age of these patients was 3 years old). The weight of these patients ranged from 2.7 kg to 52 kg(the median weight of these patients was 12 kg). Three patients died while they were getting treatment. The follow-up was carried out on eighty-seven out of ninety-five patients(91.6%) and lasted 5 months to 13 years( average 3.79±3.06 years). One patient with single-chamber right ventricular pacing was found to have cardiac insufficiency in the second year after operation. There were 6 patients with cardiac insufficiency whose ejection fractions were less than 55%. All these patients had a single-chamber left ventricular pacing implant or double-chamber right atrial left ventricular pacing implant. Paired T-test was used to compare the preoperative LVEF with the last echocardiographic LVEF(45%±7% vs.67%±7%, P 0.05),which indicated statistical differences. Conclusion A permanent epicardial pacemaker is safe and effective and reasonable pacing mode can protect cardiac function.[S Chin J Cardiol 2019;20(1):10-14]