Atrial Tachycardia in Children

• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing, pounding, or fluttering)
• Fast, steady pulse
• Shortness of breath
• Exercise intolerance
• Pain, pressure, tightness, or discomfort in your chest
• Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting.

Diagnosis is made through cardiac rhythm testing and can include ECG, Holter monitor, event monitor, exercise stress test, implantable loop recorder (ILR), or an electrophysiology study (EPS).

Management of atrial flutter is directed at controlling fast heart rates that can lead to symptoms and overall weakening of the heart muscle and avoiding blood clots that can lead to stroke.

A variety of cardiac medications and blood thinners may also be prescribed by your cardiologist. On occasion, a cardioversion may be necessary to restore a patient's normal rhythm.

In select patients either an electrophysiology study and catheter ablation or surgical ablation can be used to treat the problem to target the sites of the abnormal electrical circuit. Your cardiologist will discuss the treatment options with you.

Ongoing close management with your cardiologist/electrophysiologist is essential. Depending on rhythm control and medical management, lifestyle changes may be individualized.