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Patient education: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (Beyond the Basics)

Patient education: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (Beyond the Basics)
Literature review current through: May 2024.
This topic last updated: May 15, 2024.

OVERVIEW — Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a condition in which episodes of fast heart rate (called tachycardia) occur because of an abnormal extra electrical pathway in the heart. People with WPW may experience skipped heart beats, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting, although some people with WPW have no symptoms. Treatments are available for those who do experience symptoms. The long-term outcome of people with WPW is excellent, especially when treatments are used to eliminate the abnormal electrical pathway.

This topic review discusses how the heart functions in people with WPW, the signs and symptoms of the condition, how it is diagnosed, and the available treatments.

THE HEART — A brief review of the structure of the heart and the normal electrical conduction system will aid in the understanding of WPW. The heart is made up of four chambers: the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle (figure 1). Blood returning to the heart from the body flows into the right atrium, and then into the right ventricle. Blood is pumped out of the right ventricle into the lungs (where red blood cells fill with oxygen) and then returns to the heart in the left atrium. Blood in the left atrium flows into the left ventricle, which pumps the blood to the rest of the body through the aorta, the major artery. Blood travels through a heart valve after it leaves each chamber to keep the blood moving forward.

Heart muscle cells are stimulated by electrical impulses that cause the chambers of the heart to uniformly contract in a regular rhythm (figure 2). This contraction produces the heartbeat, which causes blood to be pumped out of the heart into arteries and then to all parts of the body. The flow of blood into arteries can be measured by feeling the pulse, which corresponds to the heartbeat.

In order to bring the electrical impulse to all parts of the heart in a uniform fashion, the heart has a series of electrical pathways, known as the conduction system. A normal heartbeat is produced when the heart's natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (or sinus) node, which is an area of specialized cells in the upper part of the right atrium, sends out a series of regular electrical impulses. These impulses travel in an organized way along conduction tissue in the heart, passing first across both atria, then to an area between the atria and the ventricles known as the atrioventricular node (AV node), and finally spreading across the ventricles, which are the heart's main pumping chambers. The normal heart rate is generally around 60 to 100 beats per minute.

CAUSES OF WOLFF-PARKINSON-WHITE SYNDROME

Conduction in WPW — In the normal heart, the atria are almost completely insulated from the ventricles electrically because they are separated by fibrous atrioventricular rings. These rings are at the level of the heart valves that separate the atria from the ventricles. Normally the only electrical connection between the atria and the ventricles is at the AV node. Conduction in the AV node is slower than in other parts of the conduction system to allow time after the atria contract for the ventricles to fill with blood before contracting. People with WPW syndrome have an extra electrical pathway between the atria and the ventricles, known as an "accessory pathway." This abnormal pathway directly connects the atria and ventricles at a site other than the AV node. It can be considered a small gap in the insulation between the atria and ventricles. The connection can be as small as a hair. An accessory pathway allows the electrical signal to travel from the atria to the ventricles more quickly than normal, bypassing the AV node where the electrical signal travels more slowly (figure 3). As a result, the normal sinus impulse can travel down the normal pathway through the AV node, as well as the more rapidly conducting accessory pathway. This allows the impulse traveling through the accessory pathway to reach the ventricle earlier, causing what is termed "preexcitation."

The presence of two pathways (the normal one and the accessory one) between the atria and ventricles poses a risk of developing a "short circuit" of the normal electrical pathway, which can result in an abnormally fast heart rate (tachycardia). People who have recurring tachycardias because of this abnormal pathway are said to have the WPW syndrome. Some people have the WPW pathway, but no tachycardia. These people are said to have a WPW pattern, which can be detected on a routine electrocardiogram (ECG; sometimes referred to as an EKG). They do not have WPW syndrome, but may develop it at some point.

Causes of tachycardia — The presence of an accessory pathway alone does not cause tachycardia. There are two mechanisms of tachycardia in the WPW syndrome:

Atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia — The most common mechanism of tachycardia in people with WPW is called atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT). In this tachycardia, an electrical impulse travels down one pathway (either through the AV node or the accessory pathway) and then back up the other, creating a repeating loop. This circular or "reentrant" electrical activity sends impulses to the ventricles at an abnormally high rate, causing the heart to beat from 140 to 250 times per minute.

The tachycardia of WPW syndrome begins suddenly and may stop just as suddenly on its own. It can last for seconds or hours. Sometimes, however, treatment is necessary to end the tachycardia and reinstate a normal rhythm. People with WPW syndrome typically have recurrent episodes of the tachycardia. This mechanism of tachycardia is rarely life threatening but can degenerate into the other mechanism of tachycardia, atrial fibrillation. (See 'Atrial fibrillation' below.)

Atrial fibrillation — Less commonly, some people with WPW can develop an abnormal rhythm called atrial fibrillation. During atrial fibrillation, the atria are beating in an uncoordinated manner at a rate of 350 to 600 beats per minute. The AV node normally blocks most of these impulses so that the ventricular rate (which is felt with the pulse) is usually less than 170 beats per minute. (See "Patient education: Atrial fibrillation (Beyond the Basics)".)

However, with WPW, conduction from the atria to the ventricles can be rapid, resulting in more impulses getting to the ventricles by crossing the accessory pathway. The ventricles may beat at a rate of 200 or more beats per minute, and there is a risk that the heart can beat up to 300 times per minute. This rapid heart rhythm can result in a cardiac arrest and sudden death. It is because of the risk that this rhythm can be life threatening that most people with symptomatic WPW are advised to undergo catheter ablation. (See 'Radiofrequency ablation' below.)

WOLFF-PARKINSON-WHITE SYMPTOMS — As mentioned earlier, people can have the WPW pathway (WPW pattern) but never experience tachycardia or any other symptoms. If symptoms do occur (WPW syndrome), they are related to the development of an abnormal heart rhythm and a rapid heart rate.

During tachycardia, a person may experience skipped heart beats, a racing heart rate, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or rarely, sudden death. Sudden death is usually a result of the very rapid ventricular response seen in WPW syndrome and is very rare. At a very rapid heart rate the ventricles cannot pump blood effectively to other vital organs. Fortunately, the incidence of sudden death in people with WPW is quite low, ranging from 0 to 0.39 percent per year, with risk lowest among those with WPW pattern who continue to have no symptoms.

WOLFF-PARKINSON-WHITE DIAGNOSIS — WPW is usually diagnosed with a standard ECG, but specialized testing is required in some people.

The electrocardiogram — The WPW pattern can be detected by an ECG even while the person is in a normal rhythm. Conduction through the accessory pathway produces a characteristic ECG pattern. A classic finding is a short PR interval (the time for conduction between atria and ventricles) and a delta wave, which reflects early conduction (preexcitation) to the ventricles through the accessory pathway.

If, however, most of the impulses traveling from the atria to the ventricles go through the AV node, then a short PR interval, a delta wave, and other findings associated with the WPW pattern will be minimal and difficult to detect.

In some people with WPW, the ECG can vary from day to day or even from hour to hour, depending upon other factors (such as adrenaline released during periods of stress or the intake of caffeine). These factors can alter the relative proportion of impulses that are conducted via the accessory pathway; it is only these impulses that produce the WPW pattern.

Diagnosis of the WPW syndrome is based upon ECG evidence of the accessory pathway and the presence of a related tachycardia.

Electrophysiologic testing — In some people, a specialized invasive procedure called electrophysiologic testing or an electrophysiology study may be performed. This test can:

Determine the reason for tachycardia

Identify the location of the accessory pathway

Determine if the accessory pathway has dangerous properties

The test is performed in an area of a hospital called an electrophysiology lab, and the person is given a sedative medication before the procedure. The person's oxygen levels, heart rate and rhythm, and blood pressure are monitored throughout testing.

To perform the test, a specially trained heart rhythm specialist threads small wires (called electrode catheters), usually through a vein in the upper thigh near the groin. A vein in another area of the body may be preferred in some situations. The catheters are advanced into the heart, where they are positioned at various locations. The catheters are used to precisely monitor, or map, the heart's electrical pathways.

If it is determined that the accessory pathway requires invasive treatment, then catheter ablation is performed as part of the procedure and is described below. (See 'Radiofrequency ablation' below.)

WOLFF-PARKINSON-WHITE TREATMENT — Most people with the WPW pattern on ECG who do not experience tachycardia do not need treatment. These people may never develop symptoms, and in some young people, conduction via the accessory pathway spontaneously disappears as the person grows older.

However, some people who are asymptomatic but have a WPW ECG pattern (such as people with a high-risk occupation or professional athletes) are advised to undergo additional testing, including electrophysiologic testing, to determine if the accessory pathway is associated with a high risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

People with WPW syndrome require treatment when or if they have an episode of tachycardia due to the serious potential risks of the tachycardia. Treatment focuses on stopping the tachycardia and preventing it from recurring.

Stopping the tachycardia — When the tachycardia is an atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT), the tachycardia can often be stopped by interfering with the circular loop described above. (See 'Atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia' above.)

This can be achieved by two simple maneuvers:

Coughing or bearing down as if having a bowel movement (called the Valsalva maneuver)

Firmly massaging the main artery in the person's neck (called carotid sinus pressure)

If these measures are not effective, medications may be used to stop the tachycardia. The best medication depends upon the mechanism that is responsible. In most cases, the person must go to an emergency department to receive intravenous (IV) medications to stop the abnormal rhythm. A heart specialist (cardiologist) with experience in the treatment of rhythm disturbances often assists with treatment in this case.

If a person is unstable due to low blood pressure (due to the rapid heart rate) or if the medication is not immediately effective, electrical cardioversion can be used to stop the arrhythmia. In cardioversion, electricity is discharged into the heart from pads or paddles placed on the chest. The current affects the electrical charge of the heart muscle cells to restart a normal rhythm. (See "Patient education: Cardioversion (Beyond the Basics)".)

Preventing recurrence of the tachycardia — There are three major options for preventing recurrence of the tachycardia: radiofrequency ablation, medications, and surgery. The choice is best made with a heart rhythm specialist (cardiac electrophysiologist) who has experience in treating the WPW syndrome.

Radiofrequency ablation — Radiofrequency catheter ablation of the accessory pathway is the treatment of choice for people with WPW syndrome. Radiofrequency ablation procedures are performed in a hospital electrophysiology lab using X-ray equipment and can take two to three hours to complete. The person is given a sedative medication to reduce discomfort.

A wire (electrode catheter) is advanced into the heart from large blood vessels and positioned within the chambers of the heart using fluoroscopy (low energy x-rays). After the accessory pathway is localized, radiofrequency energy (high frequency electricity) is delivered to the area to destroy or "ablate" the accessory pathway, preventing it from conducting impulses. (See "Patient education: Catheter ablation for abnormal heartbeats (Beyond the Basics)".)

When performed by experienced specialists, ablation cures the WPW syndrome over 95 percent of the time. Some people have multiple accessory pathways that need to be ablated. Occasionally, the accessory pathway can recover from the ablation, and the ablation procedure needs to be repeated.

The risk of a major complication is low, approximately 3 percent, with the primary risks being damage to the blood vessels or nerves in the thigh, bleeding, infection, perforation of the heart, and heart block requiring a pacemaker. The risk of specific complications depends in part on the location of the accessory pathway and which critical structures are nearby.

Surgery — Surgery is another method to disconnect the WPW pathway. The success rate for surgical ablation is close to 100 percent and the complication rate is low. However, radiofrequency ablation is a less invasive option; as a result, surgery is now rarely performed. Surgical ablation may be preferred if the person is undergoing cardiac surgery for other reasons (such as coronary artery bypass surgery or valve surgery) and is recommended when radiofrequency ablation and medications are not effective. (See "Patient education: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (Beyond the Basics)".)

Medications — Medications can prevent recurrences of tachycardia in some people with WPW, but they are usually used only in people who are not candidates for ablation or surgery. These people may be given medications to use during an episode or to take daily to prevent the arrhythmia. They may also be taught to perform maneuvers (eg, Valsalva) that can stop the tachycardia.

WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION — Your health care provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem.

This article will be updated as needed on our web site (www.uptodate.com/contents/table-of-contents/patient-information). Related topics for patients, as well as selected articles written for health care professionals, are also available. Some of the most relevant are listed below.

Patient level information — UpToDate offers two types of patient education materials.

The Basics — The Basics patient education pieces answer the four or five key questions a patient might have about a given condition. These articles are best for patients who want a general overview and who prefer short, easy-to-read materials.

Patient education: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (The Basics)
Patient education: Catheter ablation for the heart (The Basics)
Patient education: Vagal maneuvers (The Basics)

Beyond the Basics — Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed. These articles are best for patients who want in-depth information and are comfortable with some medical jargon.

Patient education: Catheter ablation for abnormal heartbeats (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Atrial fibrillation (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Cardioversion (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (Beyond the Basics)

Professional level information — Professional level articles are designed to keep doctors and other health professionals up-to-date on the latest medical findings. These articles are thorough, long, and complex, and they contain multiple references to the research on which they are based. Professional level articles are best for people who are comfortable with a lot of medical terminology and who want to read the same materials their doctors are reading.

Anatomy, pathophysiology, and localization of accessory pathways in the preexcitation syndrome
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: Anatomy, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis
Treatment of arrhythmias associated with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) associated with an accessory pathway

The following organizations also provide reliable health information.

National Library of Medicine

     (medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html)

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

     (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/)

American Heart Association

     (www.heart.org)

The Heart Rhythm Society

(www.hrsonline.org)

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Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2024© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
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