Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Treatment

Mayo Clinic doctors trained in heart conditions (cardiologists), heart rhythm conditions (electrophysiologists), heart surgery (cardiac surgery) and other specialties treat Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Your treatment team will work with you to develop the most appropriate treatment plan for you. Treatment goals include restoring your heart to its normal rhythm and preventing life-threatening heart rates.

Your treatment may include several options.

• Cardioversion. In cardioversion, your doctor may use paddles or patches on your chest to electrically shock your heart and help restore your heart's normal rhythm. Doctors also may use drugs to stop your heart's fast rhythm and restore a normal rhythm.
• Catheter radiofrequency ablation. In catheter radiofrequency ablation, your doctor inserts thin, flexible tubes (catheters) in a blood vessel in your arm or groin and threads them through your blood vessels to your heart. Your doctor then applies heat (radiofrequency energy) or extreme cold (cryoablation) through the catheter to destroy (ablate) the extra electrical pathway causing your condition.
• Surgery. If other treatment isn't effective, your doctor rarely may perform open-heart surgery to destroy the extra electrical pathway causing your condition.
• Medications. Your doctor may prescribe medications to control your heart rate or heart rhythm.
• Follow-up care and monitoring. You'll need follow-up appointments with your doctor to monitor your heart rhythm and rate. If you aren't experiencing any symptoms, you may require only monitoring of your condition.