# Successful cryoablation for typical atrial flutter in a toddler with sinus node dysfunction: the youngest case report

**Authors:** Mohammad A Ebrahim, Hasan Majid, Mohamed A Abdelnaby, J Philip Saul

PMC · DOI: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytag023 · 2026-01-28

## TL;DR

A toddler with heart rhythm issues successfully underwent a less invasive procedure to treat atrial flutter, avoiding the need for a pacemaker.

## Contribution

This is the youngest reported case of successful cryoablation for typical atrial flutter in a child with sinus node dysfunction.

## Key findings

- Cryoablation successfully terminated atrial flutter in a 2.8-year-old with sinus node dysfunction.
- No recurrence was observed after more than 1.5 years of follow-up.
- The procedure avoided pacemaker implantation and offered a less invasive alternative.

## Abstract

We describe the youngest (2.8 years, 9 kg) successful cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) cryoablation whose medical management was complicated with severe sinus node dysfunction and recurrent atrial flutter despite medical therapy (sotalol).

Two-catheter, zero fluoroscopy electrophysiology study was performed using EnSite PrecisionTM mapping system. Cavotricuspid isthmus proved to be ‘in’ circuit with entrainment. Point-by-point 2 min cryolesions resulted in termination of atrial flutter, and later bidirectional block (>120 ms) was confirmed. There was no recurrence post-ablation (>1.5-year follow-up).

Ablation offers a less invasive approach (vs. pacemaker implantation) to toddlers with tachyarrhythmia and coexisting conduction disease, limiting medical management option.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** sotalol (PubChem CID 5253)
- **Diseases:** atrial flutter (MONDO:0005310)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** NKX2-5 (NK2 homeobox 5) [NCBI Gene 1482] {aka CHNG5, CSX, CSX1, HLHS2, NKX2.5, NKX2E}, MALAT1 (metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1) [NCBI Gene 378938] {aka HCN, LINC00047, NCRNA00047, NEAT2, PRO2853, miPEP-52}, SCN5A (sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 5) [NCBI Gene 6331] {aka CDCD2, CMD1E, CMPD2, HB1, HB2, HBBD}, GNB5 (G protein subunit beta 5) [NCBI Gene 10681] {aka GB5, HG2E, IDDCA, LADCI, LDMLS1, LDMLS2}
- **Diseases:** SND (MESH:D012804), thrombosis (MESH:D013927), fibrosis (MESH:D005355), flutter (MESH:D054141), atrial septal defect (MESH:D006344), conduction disease (MESH:D004194), AFL (MESH:D001282), atrial tachydysrhythmia (MESH:D064752), atrial tachycardia (MESH:D013617), AT (MESH:D001281), atrial ectopy (MESH:D050030), atrioventricular node conduction defects (MESH:D054537), inherited channelopathy (MESH:D053447), congenital heart defects (MESH:D006330), atrioventricular nodal dysfunction (MESH:D013611), sinus dysfunction (MESH:C563513), tachyarrhythmia (MESH:D013610), arrhythmia (MESH:D001145), coronary artery injury (MESH:D003324), vascular complications (MESH:D003925), cardiac perforation (MESH:D057112), atrial cardiomyopathy (MESH:D009202), thromboembolic (MESH:D013923), arrhythmic (OMIM:212500), luminal stenosis (MESH:D003251), intracardiac thrombi (MESH:C538262), bradycardia (MESH:D001919)
- **Chemicals:** atrioventricular nodal blocking agent (-), potassium (MESH:D011188), sotalol (MESH:D013015), heparin (MESH:D006493), Warfarin (MESH:D014859), calcium (MESH:D002118)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12924158/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12924158