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