PACES/HRS expert consensus statement on the use of catheter ablation in children and patients with congenital heart disease: Developed in partnership with the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES) and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS)Endorsed by the governing bodies of PACES, HRS, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the Association for European Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC)

In the twelve years since publication of the last ablation guidelines for children and for all patients with CHD, advancements in imaging technologies and ablation energy sources have dominated the field and disproportionately influenced clinical practice. The general availability of EAM systems has led to a reduction in reliance on ionizing radiation for catheter manipulation and has helped refine the identification of arrhythmia substrates in abnormal anatomies. More robust use of higher-energy RF sources now results in greater ablation efficacy in patients with CHD; and, conversely, ablation using cryoenergy permits safer ablation of substrates in the most vulnerable parts of the heart. Together, these experiences have helped inform the recommendations in this document. In the coming years, it is expected that recently initiated registry-based projects will enable benchmarking of outcomes that will inspire the next iteration of guidelines.