Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The problem, evaluation, and surgical correction

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 767 - 785
• Main Authors: Gallagher, J J, Gilbert, M, Svenson, R H, Sealy, W C, Kasell, J, Wallace, A G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.1975
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Atrial Fibrillation - drug therapy; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Ebstein Anomaly - complications; Electrocardiography; Female; Heart Atria - physiopathology; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial - complications; Heart Ventricles - physiopathology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pacemaker, Artificial; Procainamide - therapeutic use; Purkinje Fibers - physiopathology; Refractory Period, Electrophysiological; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal - etiology; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal - physiopathology; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome - physiopathology; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome - surgery
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.51.5.767

Physiological studies of the type we have described, when performed in patients with the WPW syndrome, can yield diagnostic information regarding the mechanism of arrhythmia, demonstrate functional properties of therapeutic import, facilitate therapeutic decision-making about drug regimens and presumptively localize the site of pre-excitation as a basis for possible surgical intervention. Based on our experience, we feel that in selected patients, surgical correction of the WPW syndrome is entirely feasible, and can be accomplished in the majority of patients in whom free wall A-V connections are present. The continuing challenge of identification and correction of septal accessory pathways directs our present work with the WPW syndrome.