Arrhythmias and Congenital Heart Disease

Atrial and ventricular arrhythmias are more common in congenital heart diseases due to chamber enlargement (stretching) and/or scarring in the atria or ventricles. Conditions such as atrial septal defects after surgical repair, Tetralogy of Fallot, classic and lateral tunnel Fontan circuits, and transposition of the great arteries after Senning/Mustard repair. Leaking of the valves that separate the atria from the ventricles can cause the atria to become large over time, and increase the risk of atrial arrhythmias.

Diagnosis and treatment of atrial or ventricular arrhythmias in congenital heart disease are similar to these arrhythmias in patients with normal heart structure.

Read more about atrial tachycardia, atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.