Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Treatment

The goals of treatment for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome include restoring the heart to normal rhythm and preventing life-threatening heart rates. The types of treatment options for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome may include:

Medications
Open-heart Surgery
Nonsurgical procedures - catheter radiofrequency ablation
Follow-up care

Medications

Several medications can be used to manage WPW syndrome. The medications are usually taken two or three times daily.

When these medications are effective, they can prevent the need for catheter procedures or open-heart surgery. However, the medications may need to be taken for many years and can have side effects, which cause the patient not to feel well. In addition, the medications do not work for all patients and, in 2 to 8 percent of patients, aggravate rather than reduce the fast heart rate.

Open-heart Surgery

Open-heart surgery is the most effective treatment for WPW syndrome. It eliminates the extra electrical heart pathways in 96 to 99 percent of cases. However, open-heart surgery involves a seven- to 10-day stay in the hospital and four to 10 weeks of recovery at home.

Nonsurgical procedures - Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

A less-invasive alternative to open-heart surgery is catheter radiofrequency ablation. In the procedure, catheters (thin, flexible tubes) are threaded through the patient's blood vessels to reach the abnormal heart tissue. The cardiologist then uses radiofrequency energy (heat) to destroy the extra pathway.

Atrial fibrillation ablation usually requires only one to two days in the hospital. Patients usually return to normal activities within one to 10 days. The procedure is about one-third to one-half the cost of open-heart surgery.

The success of this procedure depends on where the pathway is located:

• On the left side of the heart - success rate is 90 to 95 percent
• On the right side of the heart - success rate is 85 to 90 percent

Follow-up care

Neither open-heart surgery nor atrial fibrillation ablation eliminates the skipped heartbeats that trigger the abnormally fast heart rhythm characteristic of WPW syndrome. This condition may persist after surgery or catheter ablation and may require additional therapy. In 5 to 10 percent of patients, the extra connection may recur even when ablation appears to have been successful. Repeat ablation may be necessary.

Mayo Clinic provides long-term monitoring of patients and coordinates with the patient's local health care provider to help care for any persisting or recurrent heartbeat problems.