Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
A congenital heart condition characterized by an accessory electrical pathway that can cause rapid heart rhythms.
Full Definition
Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a congenital cardiac condition characterized by the presence of an accessory atrioventricular pathway (bundle of Kent) that bypasses the normal AV node conduction. This creates a substrate for atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia and allows for rapid conduction of atrial arrhythmias to the ventricles. The classic ECG findings include a short PR interval, delta wave, and wide QRS complex during sinus rhythm. WPW syndrome can be associated with life-threatening arrhythmias, particularly when atrial fibrillation conducts rapidly over the accessory pathway, and is often treated with catheter ablation.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate all three names; WPW acceptable as abbreviation after first use.
In Context
- "The patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome underwent successful accessory pathway ablation." — Surgical report
- "Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome was diagnosed based on the characteristic delta wave on ECG." — Diagnostic workup