title: [Pre-excitation pattern associated with accessory pathway related tachycardia: case report].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pre-excitation is based on an accessory conduction pathway between the atrium and ventricle. The term Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is used for patients with the pre-excitation/WPW pattern associated with AP-related tachycardia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a 52-year-old man with severe palpitation, fatigue, lightheadedness and difficulty breathing. The initial ECG showed tachyarrhythmia with heart rate between 240 and 300/min. He was treated with antiarrhythmics (Digitalis, Verapamil, Lidocaine) with no response. Then, the patient was treated with electrical cardioversion and was referred to our Clinic for further evaluation with the diagnosis: "Ventricular tachycardia". During in-hospital stay, the previously undiagnosed WPW pattern had been seen. Additional diagnostic tests confirmed permanent pre-excitation pattern (ECG Holter recording, exercises test). The patient was referred to an electrophysiologist for further evaluation. Mapping techniques provided an accurate assessment of the position of the accessory pathway which was left lateral. The elimination of the accessory pathway by radiofrequent catheter ablation is highly effective in termination and elimination of tacchyarrhythmias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptomatic, life-threatening arrhythmia, first considered as ventricular tachycardia, reflected atrial fibrillation with ventricular pre-excitation over an accessory pathway in a patient with previously undiagnosed WPW syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiovascular Diseases, Clinical Centre, Nis, Serbia. burazori@eunet.rs
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burazor
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Burazor
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mujović
mesh_terms: D058606:Accessory Atrioventricular Bundle / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011226:Pre-Excitation Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014927:Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery