Pediatric Arrhythmia Program
 Director Lee B. Beerman, MD |
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Children’s Hospital
of Pittsburgh Pediatric Arrythmia Program
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The Pediatric Arrhythmia Program at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
provides comprehensive evaluation and management of heart rate and rhythm
disorders in pediatric patients. These include arrhythmias in the fetus,
infant, child, adolescent and adult with congenital heart disease. The
entire range of cardiac diagnostic services is available through the center,
including standard electrocardiograms, 24-hour ambulatory ECG (Holter)
monitors and trans-telephonic event monitors (both continuous loop monitors
and hand-held devices applied during symptomatic episodes). In addition,
more sophisticated testing such as transesophageal and intracardiac electrophysiologic
studies are conducted at the center to assist in the diagnosis of difficult
or persistent arrhythmias.
The Pediatric Arrhythmia Program’s electrophysiologic laboratory
is part of the Heart Center’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.
It contains state-of-the-art equipment and is staffed by highly trained
personnel. Complete diagnostic studies and therapeutic interventions,
such as radio frequency catheter ablation, are conducted in the electrophysiologic
lab. Radio frequency catheter ablation is a procedure that allows the
elimination of an arrhythmic substrate by delivering an electrical current
via catheter. This procedure has dramatically improved the quality of
life for patients with Wolfe-Parkinson-White syndrome, recurrent paroxysmal
supraventricular tachycardia, atrial tachycardia and flutter, and ventricular
tachycardia.
The program currently provides care for more than 150 patients with cardiac
pacemakers. Pacemaker implantation is performed in conjunction with the
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and continuous monitoring is performed
in the center’s weekly pacemaker clinic.
The Pediatric Arrhythmia Program also provides evaluation and management
services for patients with syncope that might be due to a cardiac abnormality
or autonomic dysfunction. Tilt table testing is available in the center
and can be valuable in determining the etiology for syncope and evaluating
the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.
For appointments and consultations with the Pediatric Arrythmia Program,
please call
412-692-5540.
