Safety of inpatient initiation of oral flecainide in pediatric patients

Flecainide is a medication used to prevent or treat irregular heartbeats. However, it may worsen existing irregular heartbeats or create new rhythm issues. This is why it is started in the inpatient setting among pediatric patients. The study aims to assess unintended medical occurrences that might happen and identify low-risk patients that can potentially start Flecainide outside of the hospital.

Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
3300 Gallows Road 
Falls Church, VA 22042

• Pediatric patients (≤18 years old)
• Initiated on oral flecainide in the inpatient setting between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2024
• At least 12 months of outpatient follow up after discharge from the index hospitalization

•      Patients who were concomitantly treated with other class IC antiarrhythmic medications, class III antiarrhythmic medications (including amiodarone), or digoxin.
•     Patients who received a "pill-in-pocket" dose of flecainide during the index hospitalization.
• Patients admitted for re-initiation or up titration of flecainide.