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Guidelines for sites linking to mayoclinic.orgMayo Clinic is internationally recognized for its expertise in treating Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, a condition in which the heart beats rapidly because of abnormal, extra electrical pathways between the heart's upper and lower chambers. Mayo Clinic has extensive experience in the most advanced treatments for patients who have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a type of heart arrhythmia.
Cardiologists (physician experts in heart care) at Mayo Clinic treat thousands of patients of all ages with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome each year, including infants, children and adults. Cardiologists use the most advanced technology available to accurately diagnose WPW syndrome. At Mayo Clinic, an integrated team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and other medical specialists treat patients who have the syndrome.
Mayo Clinic is an international leader in advanced treatments for WPW syndrome, including catheter radiofrequency ablation and open-heart surgery. Mayo has more than 25 years of experience in using catheter ablation to treat patients who have various heart arrhythmias such as WPW syndrome, and Mayo Clinic physicians perform thousands of electrophysiology procedures each year.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked among the Best Hospitals in Heart and Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
The medical team for patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is led by electrophysiologists. They are cardiologists with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders, including diagnoses of heartbeat problems in infants and children. Mayo Clinic is nationally recognized for its experience in electrophysiologic testing. Read more about Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome diagnosis.
The decision for medical treatment, and the method selected, can be made only after a comprehensive diagnosis. The Mayo Clinic Model of Care emphasizes an integrated, collaborative team approach to provide the most appropriate care for each patient. Medical experts in many specialties collaborate to determine the most accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
The most common treatment options for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome are medications and catheter radiofrequency ablation, a minimally-invasive procedure to remove the abnormal, extra electrical heart pathway. Rarely, open-heart surgery may be performed if patients have other heart conditions in addition to WPW syndrome.
Follow-up care for patients is another essential component of Mayo Clinic's treatment for heart arrhythmia. Read more about Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome treatment.
Comparison of normal electrical pathways and accessory pathways in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome describes a rapid heartbeat resulting from a particular type of abnormal, extra electrical pathway between the heart's two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). However, not all extra electrical pathways are WPW syndrome, and not all pathways need to be treated.
In some cases, WPW syndrome is present at birth. The syndrome is the most common heartbeat disorder among infants and children. But WPW can present at any age, and symptoms develop more frequently in adults, usually between ages 30 and 40. More males than females are affected. WPW syndrome may in some circumstances increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Read more about Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and other heart arrhythmias at MayoClinic.com.
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Cardiac specialists at all three Mayo Clinic locations specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the heart, treating thousands of patients yearly. Learn more about heart care at Mayo Clinic.
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