According to the Pediatric Catheter Ablation Registry, “patient choice” is the reason given for 40% of procedures performed in this age group. The purpose of this investigation is to determine what reasons parents use in choosing radiofrequency catheter ablation over other therapies for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) symptoms in their child. Twenty-five patients who had undergone successful catheter ablation were the subject of this study. These patients were selected because there was an option of catheter ablation versus medical therapy. A questionnaire was sent after their procedure to determine which factors were important in their decision to choose ablation.

Results: Twenty-five of 25 parents successfully completed their questionnaire. The average age of the children of this group was 10 years, and all had reentrant SVT as a diagnosis. Almost 50% of the patients had tried less than 2 medications prior to attempting catheter ablation. Over 50% of the parents had restricted their child's life-style secondary to episodes of tachycardia prior to catheter ablation. The 3 most important reasons for the parents choosing catheter ablation were 1) concerns that the child did not have normal life-style; 2) experience of a frightening episode of tachycardia in the past; and 3) fear of a future frightening episode of tachycardia. Issues concerning real or potential side effects from medications were of secondary concern. Also, restriction of the parents' life-style by the child's SVT was not deemed an important reason for choosing catheter ablation. Post ablation, 96% of the patients are enjoying an unrestricted life-style.

Conclusion: When given an option for catheter ablation versus medical therapy of pediatric SVT, many parents choose the former. Impetus for elective catheter ablation involves desires to normalize the child's life-style and avoidance of frightening episodes of SVT.