Supraventricular dysrhythmias in the adolescent.

Supraventricular dysrhythmias are the most common cause of rhythm disturbance in the adolescent. With advances in surgical techniques and medical management, more children will be entering adolescence and, as a result, a higher incidence of dysrhythmias will be encountered. Appropriate management of supraventricular tachycardia requires precise determination of the mechanism, symptomatology, and presence or absence of structural heart disease. Antidysrhythmic drugs have a wide spectrum of electrophysiologic effects. An understanding of the mechanisms underlying the different types of supraventricular tachycardia makes management less empiric and more rational. Surgical ablation, as well as endocardial catheter ablation, offer new therapeutic modalities for the management of refractory tachycardias.