title: [Should all patients with ventricular pre-excitation of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome type undergo catheter ablation?].
abstract: The authors make a concise review concerning clinical, electrocardiographic and electrophysiologic risk stratification in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and present the results of radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrioventricular accessory pathways. The low sensitivity of electrophysiologic criteria for the identification of a high risk profile limits their use in asymptomatic patients with a low incidence of sudden death. The greater risk of ventricular fibrillation in symptomatic patients makes radiofrequency catheter ablation the treatment of choice for these patients. Therefore, the authors do not recommend an electrophysiologic risk stratification in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, but emphasize that catheter ablation should be performed in all symptomatic patients.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia-Hospital de Santa Marta, Lisboa.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quininha
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcias
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014927:Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*
vernacular_title: Devem todos os doentes com pré-excitação ventricular do tipo Wolff-Parkinson-White realizar ablação por cateter?