Abstract

MEDEIROS, Argelia et al. Sudden death in intermittent Wolff Parkinson White syndrome. Arch. Cardiol. Méx. [online]. 2001, vol.71, n.1, pp.59-65. ISSN 1665-1731.

Sudden death is a rare condition in asymptomatic patients with asymptomatic intermittent Wolff Parkinson syndrome (WPW); for this reason it is believed that these patients should not undergo to radiofrequency ablation. We report an asymptomatic 44 year old man who developed ventricular fibrillation with a pre-excited RR interval less than 200 msec during atrial fibrillation, as a first manifestation of WPW syndrome. The Holter monitoring showed intermittent pre-excitation at low heart rate (70 bpm). During the electrophysiological study a successfully radiofrequency catheter ablation of a right posteroseptal accessory pathway was performed. We concluded that intermittent pre-excitation may not be used to identify patients who are at risk of sudden death. Radiofrequency catheter ablation should be recommended in those patients with a very high success rate, and a low incidence of serious complications.

Keywords : Wolff Parkinson White syndrome; Sudden death; Radiofrequency ablation.

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