[Incidence and clinical behavior of arrhythmias associated with congenital heart disease and surgical treatment].

Congenital heart disease is associated with arrhythmias. Not only the congenital anatomic settings but also the arrhythmogenic substrate related to surgical procedures is associated with the increased incidence of arrhythmias in these patients. In the National Institute of Cardiology, we reviewed retrospectively 128 clinical records of patients subjeted to surgical treatment of congenital heart disease (81 Fontan surgery, 19 with anomalous pulmonary drainage, 19 Fallot tetralogy). The incidence of supraventricular tachycardia was 8.6%, and the bradyarrhythmias were 15% with AV block in different degrees. Permanent pacing was required in 7.8% of the patients. The incidence of arrhythmias in post-surgical patients with congenital heart disease is increasing constantly.