Operations for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Forty-six patients with symptomatic tachycardia underwent operations to divide 55 atrioventricular accessory pathways. Mean age was 29 years (range 11 to 63). Ten patients (22%) had associated cardiac disease, including two with a congenital diverticulum of the coronary sinus and six (13%) who had concomitant surgical procedures. A bipolar hand-held electrode was used in 22 operations, and simultaneous multisite mapping in the last 24 operations. Ten patients (22%) had multiple accessory pathways. A modified endocardial approach was used. The overall patient success rate was 93% with 91% to 93% of accessory pathways successfully divided. The perioperative morbidity was 17%. There were two reoperations. There were no early or late deaths. Patients have been followed up for a mean of 16 months. There were five recurrences of preexcitation (two early, three late). Two of these patients (both with a congenital diverticulum of the coronary sinus) had reoperation. One patient had late recurrence of atrial fibrillation. Operation for the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome has a high probability of success with a low operative risk.
Hood
M A
MA
Department of Cardiology, Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
Smith
W M
WM
Robinson
M C
MC
Ashton
N
N
Withy
S
S
Burke
N
N
Barber
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D014927:Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*