Arrhythmia - Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome Flashcards
What is WPW syndrome?
When electrical signal in heart travels in a short circuit loop due to an extra “wire” in circuit allowing signals to bypass normal SA - Av pathway
Means HR is very fast as conduction is now faster
Where does this new wire come from?
Caused by a strand of muscle that grows from atria to ventricle during foetal development abnormally
Runs in families but can happen randomly too
What happens to diastole in WPW syndrome?
Muscle contracts so fast that barely any diastolic filling time
Means less CO
Dizzy and light headed
What can WPW syndrome also cause or be associated with?
A structural problem of the heart
Common one is Ebsteins anomaly - where tricuspid valve doesn’t form normally
WPW treatment?
Electrophysiology and ablation of the accessory pathway
