Biventricular Pacing in the Pediatric Population

Hypothesis 1 (H1): Epicardial biventricular pacing is a safe and feasible method of pacing in young patients. Over the last two years, physicians at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta have been implanting epicardial BiV pacing systems in children determined to have ventricular dyssynchrony caused by numerous cardiac diagnoses. The decision to use these pacing systems was based on the knowledge gained by adult studies. Since the use of these pacing systems in the pediatric population has not been formally studied, we propose a study to retrospectively review the safety and feasibility of epicardial BiV pacing in pediatric patients. This study will involve the review of the medical records of children who received epicardial BiV systems at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta between January 2002 and May 2004.