Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

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Conduction system of the heart

Preexcitation syndrome; WPW

The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms by reducing the episodes of tachycardia (rapid heart rate).

Medication may be used to control or prevent rapid heart beating. These include adenosine, antiarrhythmics, and amiodarone. Digoxin, verapamil, and beta-blockers (other drugs commonly used to treat other types of tachycardia) can increase the frequency of tachycardia episodes for some people with Wolff-Parkinson-White.

Other treatments to stop a persistent episode of tachycardia may include electrical cardioversion (shock) or catheter ablation with a special type of energy called radiofrequency. This destroys the accessory pathway using a catheter (tube) inserted into the body to reach the heart. The success rate for this procedure ragnes between 85 - 95%, depending on the location of the extra pathway.

Surgery may provide a permanent cure for Wolff-Parkinson-White. This involves ablation (destruction) of the accessory pathway using open heart surgery. Surgery may be a good approach to cure symptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, but it is usually only done if the patient must undergo surgery for other reasons.

• Reduced blood pressure (caused by continous rapid heart rate)
• Heart failure
• Side effects of medications
• Complications of surgery

The most severe form of tachyarrhythmia is atrial fibrillation. It may rapidly lead to shock, and  requires emergency treatment (cardioversion).

Review Date: 05/30/2006
Reviewed By: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided byVeriMed Healthcare Network.