Esmolol (Brevibloc) to assess dynamic subpulmonary stenosis in a child after repair of complete transposition: a case report.

Esmolol (Brevibloc), a new, ultra-short acting, cardioselective beta-adrenergic blocking agent with half-life of 9.2 min following i.v. administration was given to a 4-year-old child with known dynamic and fixed sub-pulmonary stenosis post Senning repair for complete transposition of the great vessels. The left ventricular systolic pressure increased from 48 to 100 mmHg, heart rate showed an increase from 65 to 140 bpm, the right femoral arterial pressures decreased from 115/58 to 77/35 mmHg following an infusion of Isoprel. Infusion of esmolol partially relieved the dynamic sub-pulmonary stenosis. There were no adverse effects and esmolol was tolerated well by the child. Esmolol might thus play a role in the pediatric catheterization laboratory during investigational procedures, electrophysiological studies and in the control of rapid supraventricular tachycardia, especially in adolescents with WPW pre-excitation. Esmolol would also be beneficial in emergency treatment of epinephrine or isoproterenol overdosage.