Surgical Treatment of the WPW Syndrome - Experience in 30 Initial Cases

Summary

Between May 1980 and February 1985, 30 patients were operated upon at Sahlgren's Hospital for life-threatening or drsabling arrhythmias, caused by Kent's bundles. Two surgical methods were used. The outcome of surgery was fully satisfactory in 19 patients, whereas 4 patients continued to have arrhythmias after surgery. Six patients had a modified deltawave in the ECG after surgery, but their arrhythmias could be controlled by antiarrhythmic medication. One patient died after surgery due to an undiagnosed cerebral tumor.

There were 2 late deaths, between 6 and 12 months postoperatively; neither of these was caused by arrhythmias.

Key words

Accessory pathway - Arrhythmie surgery - Electrophysiology - WPW-syndrome