An arrhythmia is when a heart beats irregularly. The condition can cause the heart to beat too quickly, too slowly or unevenly. If your child’s doctor finds an arrhythmia, they may recommend diagnostic tests or refer you to a pediatric cardiologist.
Heart rate measures a heart’s beats per minute. A child’s resting heart rate is around 70. Infants’ heart beat about 140 times per minute. Heart rhythms are ordinarily regular, though they speed and slow during different activities.
An arrhythmia can be present at birth or develop later. Sometimes an irregular heartbeat doesn’t have symptoms. Doctors often find the problem during routine exams. If your child’s pediatrician notices an arrhythmia, they will evaluate her medical history.
HOW ARE ARRHTHMIAS TREATED?
We have various therapies for our patients with irregular heart beats. The recommended treatment depends on the patient’s condition. Here are some of the therapies pediatric cardiologists recommend for children with an arrhythmia:
Pacemaker Implantation
In some cases, where the heart beats too slowly or has dangerous pauses, a pacemaker may be necessary. A pacemaker is a small device implanted under the skin that helps regulate the heartbeat. Pediatric cardiologists like Dr. Mahesh Ghogare, who has extensive experience in permanent pacemaker implantation, ensure that children receive the most appropriate and minimally invasive treatment for their heart rhythm issues.
Medication
We can treat some disorders with drugs. Tachycardias, a condition where the heart beats too fast, may be improved with medication. Medicine doesn’t cure an arrhythmia but may prevent or shorten an episode or irregular beats.
If your child’s physician prescribes a drug, your child may need to take a dose every day or she may need it only when her heart beats abnormally. Some patients begin drug treatment in a hospital where they can be monitored for side effects. A doctor may need to prescribe several drugs before finding the right medication.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Serious arrhythmias may require more than medication. A physician may recommend a permanent remedy if a child’s condition is life-threatening. A radiofrequency catheter ablation is a non-invasive procedure. The pediatric cardiologist uses several catheters to change the part of the heart that causes the irregularity.
Surgery
Physicians treat some patients with open surgery. The surgeon will alter the heart to interrupt the abnormal connection causing the problem.
About Dr. Mahesh Ghogare
Dr. Mahesh Ghogare has done his super specialization (DM Cardiology) in adult and pediatric cardiology from LTMMC and LTMGH, Sion Hospital, Mumbai. After that, he worked as Asst. Professor in the department of cardiology. Later, he joined the Seven Hills Hospital health city, Andheri, where he mastered coronary angiographies and angioplasties through the radial route, a highly skilled technique. He has performed more than 3000 angiographies and over 500 angioplasties, mostly through the radial route. He is an expert in complex congenital 2D and 3D echocardiograms and is well-trained in interventions for pediatric cardiac diseases such as ASD, PDA, and MAPCA ligation.