Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome Flashcards
Define:
Congenital abnormality which can result in supraventricular tachycardia using an accessory pathway.
Pre-excitation syndrome - early excitation of the ventricles due to a signal bypassing the AVN by an accessory pathway.
Aetiology:
Bundle of Kent is usually congenital
Associations:
- Cardiomyopathies
- congenital heart defects
- mitral valve prolapse
- Ebstein’s anomaly
Epidemiology:
relatively common - most common of the ventricular pre-excitation syndrome
seen in all ages but more common in younger ages.
As age increase prevalence decreases
signs and symptoms:
may be asymptomatic
SVT when young
usually discovered as incidental finding on an ECG
may have:
- palpitations
- light-headness
- syncope
polyuria (increase ANP after SVT)
sudden death if they enter into VF
associated signs with cardiac defects
investigations:
ECG - note it can be normal if the accessory route is timed right
> shortened PR interval
>Broad QRS
>slurred upstroke of QRS (delta waves)
Bloods - to check other causes of arrhythmia
Echo - look for structural heart defects
