| Alternative Names:
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| Preexcitation syndrome; WPW |
| Treatment:
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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.
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.
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| Expectations (prognosis):
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| The outcome varies. Using a catheter to deliver radiofrequency waves to destroy the abnormal pathway usually cures Wolff-Parkinson-White. This is currently the preferred therapeutic approach to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in the United States.
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| Complications:
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- reduced blood pressure caused by sustained rapid heart rate. The most severe form of tachyarrhythmia is atrial fibrillation. It may rapidly lead to shock and thus requires emergency treatment (cardioversion).
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heart failure.
- side effects of medications used to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White (see the specific medication).
- complications of surgery.
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| Calling your health care provider:
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| Call your health care provider if symptoms indicating Wolff-Parkinson-White develop, or if you have this disorder and symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment.
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