INFO: Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
 

Just a little bit of information on Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome for those with a curiosity like mine but aren't that bothered about looking for it. (Compilation of the least confusing medical babble i could find). Didn't know if I should include links to external sites, but these are the sites I got the info off and didn't feel right posting without giving credit.

What is the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome?

If there's an extra conduction pathway, the electrical signal may arrive at the ventricles too soon. This condition is called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). It's in a category of electrical abnormalities called "pre-excitation syndromes."

It's recognized by certain changes on the electrocardiogram, which is a graphical record of the heart's electrical activity. The ECG will show that an extra pathway or shortcut exists from the atria to the ventricles.

Many people with this syndrome who have symptoms or episodes of tachycardia (rapid heart rhythm) may have dizziness, chest palpitations, fainting or, rarely, cardiac arrest. Other people with WPW never have tachycardia or other symptoms. About 80 percent of people with symptoms first have them between the ages of 11 and 50.

How is this syndrome treated?

People without symptoms usually don't need treatment. People with episodes of tachycardia can often be treated with medication. But sometimes such treatment doesn't work. Then they'll need to have more tests of their heart's electrical system.

The most common procedure used to interrupt the abnormal pathway is radiofrequency or catheter ablation. In this, a flexible tube called a catheter is guided to the place where the problem exists. Then that tissue is destroyed with radiofrequency energy, stopping the electrical pathway. Successful ablation ends the need for medication. Whether a person will be treated with medication or with an ablation procedure depends on several factors. These include the severity and frequency of symptoms, risk for future arrhythmias and patient preference.

reference: http://www.americanheart.org/present...dentifier=4785

Frequency:
WPW affects approximately 0.15-0.2% of the general population. Of these individuals, 60-70% have no other evidence of heart disease.

Mortality/Morbidity:
Death from WPW occurs secondary to the associated arrhythmias or from mistreatment of these arrhythmias with inappropriate medications. Little data are available regarding the mortality rate of such arrhythmias, but most studies report the incidence of sudden death in the 0-4% range.

Sex:
Men are affected more often (60-70%) than women. Typically, those affected are young, otherwise healthy individuals.

Age:
Although this disease affects people of all ages, it most commonly is recognized in children and young adults presenting to the ED with an arrhythmia. Conduction speed in the accessory pathway appears to attenuate with age.

Symptoms

• Patients may present with anything from mild chest discomfort or palpitations to severe cardiopulmonary distress or arrest. Occasionally, the disease is discovered on routine electrocardiography (ECG) performed for a reason other than acute cardiac symptomatology.
• Patients commonly present with heart rates in the 250 beat per minute (bpm) range, often with associated hypotension.
• Patients usually are aware of their cardiac condition, but they may be diagnosed in the ED.
• WPW has no specific examination features except for those that may accompany the arrhythmias.
• On physical examination, the patient may be cool, diaphoretic, and hypotensive.
• Crackles in the lungs are common, as the high heart rate causes diastolic heart failure.

reference: http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic644.htm

I was curious too (having gone into nursing as a cadet straight for school and having a lifetime interest in all things medical).

Put it into a Search-engine - very interesting. Thanks for the post - I think it will help some fans understand that our Hero is not going to depart for many years to come!

Rock-on Meat Loaf! Always knew you were "electrifying"!

Heather.

Aww cheers honey - I can always count on you to put things into a language I can ( half ) understand!!!

Thanks for posting this info - and in words that we can all understand :D

:D Thanks for that it explains it nicely well done

This link it's in spanish... of course when I read it I search for info...

Thanks to google :D

And thanks to Meat for be here

News item
 

http://www.ananova.com/entertainment...sm_841249.html

Funny how we know more than they do :-)

yes ITV, news and Scots news had the same thing but basically they
were all the same wording.
kezzina

The fact that we seem to know far more than the press is a testament to how much Meat cares about his fans- he cared enough to give us the scoop directly from the horses (or more correctly, the Meat's) mouth!

Sherrie

Absolutely right Sherrie :)
Vicki

Actually I thought this one was more accurate than most .. even gave the name of the hospital the Northwick said he'd been transferred to.

mercury speak
 

found this:

Meat Loaf recovers in London after surgery

LONDON (Reuters) - American rock singer Meat Loaf is recovering from heart surgery after collapsing on a London stage last week, his record company says.

The star had surgery to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a defect of the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat.

The 56-year-old, famed for his mega-hit "Bat Out Of Hell", was recovering at a private location in London after undergoing surgery last Friday.

The singer collapsed in the middle of a sold-out concert at London`s Wembley Arena last Monday.

"He will be receiving additional tests later this week to determine the success of the procedure after which more details of both his condition and tour plans are expected to be given," his record company said on Tuesday.

Scared and worried
 

Don't know if really I should have started another subject, or if I should have joined on to the end of another one, and I'm sorry if I'm taking up valuable space where someone else could probably write something decent, but I just wanted to get my feelings down .... :(

I'm really scared for Meat, I'm scared that he's going to colapse and not get up, I'm scared that he's pushing himself too far, I'm scared that he's making himself ill, and I feel silly, but I can't help the way I feel. It's strange to care about someone so much when you don't even really know them.

Am I being daft? :? It's like because I've grown up listening to Meat's music, being excited when I went to my first concert, bored everyone silly with how fantastic an entertainer he is that he's well and truly part of my life, a part of my life I don't really want to let go of. Maybe that's boardering on obsessed?

Anyway, sorry for taking up so much of everyones valuable time, and thanks for listening to me have a good ol' moan!

Keep rockin' Meat, every single one of us love, adores and worships you, stay happy, healthy and loud!!!

Lots of love and hugs to everyone daft enough to read this!

Shelly
xoxoxoxoxoxooxox

Read what he said on Sunday night Shelly .. he's fine. His condition had now been correctly diagnosed and treated. He will be OK. I have treated many people who have had this surgery, and they are fine once the pathway has been zapped. Stop worrying and look forward to seeing Meat resume in good health.

Caryl,

Thanks .... I did read what Meat wrote, and I still can't stop worrying though, born worrier born and bred, sorry, just always worry, worry if I haven't got anything to worry about me!!

Just started thinking about stuff, and got scared, and worried, and well, y'know!

I just wanted to have a blab to people who kinda understood what I felt, and it made me feel better writing it too!!!

Thanks again for the reasurance, I'm sure he'll be fine, and I'm sure I'm worrying over nothing (I usually do) ...... :D

Shelly xxxx

:D Shelly don't ever stop worrying, because without people like you and others like you what a dull world it would be. At least we all know that Meat is on the road to recovery, no matter how long it takes we will be here for him

My father is a nearly 17 year cardiac patient. He has had a 5-way bypass and two cardiac cath procedures in his life. When the old pumper starts acting up, they root around and check out the problem, then he is up and back to his old self in a few days. Typically, a cardiac cath is an outpatient procedure, and I have heard Meat was released the same day as they did his. The reason for the prolonged hospital stay appeared to be due to the fact they did not know the reasoning behind his medical condition and they needed to run some tests.

I am a betting man, and I place a very large wager on the fact that you will not believe the before and after with Meat now that he has had a heart cath procedure with ablation to remove any potential issues. We will more than likely see him pull out the trusty bar stool for the first few shows, but after that - WATCH OUT!!!

It is toally understandable that you should have concerns Shelly, but never fear, Meat will be back and kickin' before we even realize it!!!

ROCK ON CARDIAC CATH!!!

Also page 506 on bbc1 ceefax are reporting Meats condition from his post on his fan club website. They also wrote how he told his fans online he hoped to resume the tour sunday

:o Shelly - I am sure all the information given by the others is true and hope you feel more at ease than you did. It has been a worrying time for everyone but it was the "not knowing" that made me worry. I am certain that Meat is well on the way to recovery and will be rocking real soon!!

Don't feel silly to worry - this man has touched so many people with his music and his charisma - he brings out the humanisitc side in most people, which is a great quality to possess.

Take care

Love

Angelxxx

Meat Heart opp
 

It was reported on the front page of the Glasgow Evening Times last night Meat has been opperated on due to a heart murmer and the paper are well known for beeing truthfull in what they print i dont know how big the opp was but if true it looks like the whole tour will have to be canceld i really really hope not

Pete 8)

it does seem to one setback after another( no fault of meats) with this tour.im sure meat must be a tiny bit frustrated knowing he cant get up on stage and do what he does best.im sure with time he will recover,i feel sorry for the people that have never seen him perform live and are waiting to see him.i saw him at the plymouth concert and since then there has been quite a few tiny hic ups with the tour.glad i got to see him when i did.fingers crossed for the fans that are waiting to see him,most of all fingers crossd for meat. :D

If you read the post by Fireball at http://www.mlukfc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2693" you would know that he was operated on for Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and will be seeing his doctor again on Thursday when he expects to get the all clear to start the tour again on Sunday.

SueW

Just read an article on dotmusic.com/news/November2003 confirming what you say. Looks like I may be lucky for the Manchester concert on 17 December 2003. :D :D

I've heard it here on the news. Terrible... that ain't no way for Meat Loaf. Hope he will recover soon.

The BUtcher 8O