Despite the multicenter and prospective design, the study demonstrates high success rates and low complication rates, which are comparable to prior single-center retrospective studies. These results may serve as the current best benchmark for expected results in the pediatric population, aged 0 to 16 years, both in terms of acute success rates and the occurrence of complications.

Pediatric patients resuscitated from SCD appear to remain at risk for recurrence of life-threatening tachyarrhythmias. During a mean follow-up of 31 months, the ICD provided an effective therapy for such arrhythmias in the majority of patients in this study. Following ICD implant, impaired ventricular function was the primary factor correlated with mortality. The patterns of ICD discharge observed in young patients and, thus, inferred risk of recurrent life threatening arrhythmias are similar to those of adult survivors of SCD. Thus, the use of ICDs in pediatric patients, with implant selection criteria similar to adults, appears valid.

Recurrence after initially successful ablation occurs commonly in children. It is least common after AVNRT ablation and most common following ablation of right-sided pathways. These results serve as a benchmark for the time course of recurrence following initially successful ablation of supraventricular tachycardia in children.

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