Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Treatments for WPW syndrome
In many cases, episodes of abnormal heart activity associated with WPW syndrome are harmless, don't last long, and settle down on their own without treatment.
You may therefore not need any treatment if your symptoms aremild or occur very occasionally, although you should still have regular check-ups so your heart can be monitored.
If your cardiologist recommends treatment, there are a number of options available.You can have treatmentto either stop episodes when they occur, or prevent them occurring in the future.
Stopping an episode
There are three maintechniques and treatments that can help stop episodes as they occur. These are:
- Vagal manoeuvres techniques designed to stimulatethe nerve that slows down the electrical signals in your heart. An example isthe 'Valsalva manoeuvre', where you hold your nose, close your mouth and exhale hard while straining as if you're on the toilet.
- Medication an injection of medicine such asadenosinecan be given in hospital if vagal manoeuvres don't help. It canblock the abnormal electricalsignals in your heart.
- Cardioversion a type of electric shock therapythat jolts the heart back into a normal rhythm. This may be carried out in hospital if the above treatments don't work.
Preventing further episodes
Techniques and treatments that can help prevent episodes include:
- Lifestyle changes if your episodes are triggered by things such as strenuous exercise or alcohol, avoiding these may help. Your cardiologist can advise youabout this.
- Medication daily tablets of medication such as amiodarone can help prevent episodes by slowing down the electrical impulses in your heart.
- Catheter ablation this procedure is commonly used nowadays to destroy the extra part of the heart causing the problems in the heart's electrical system. It's effective in around 95% of cases.
See treating supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) for more information about all the treatments mentioned here.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, a heart condition that can cause the heart to beat abnormally fast. Find out about the symptoms, causes and treatments.
Is it serious?
It can be scary to be told that you have a problem with your heart, but WPW syndrome usually isn't serious. Many people will have no symptoms or only experience occasional, mild episodes of their hear
Symptoms of WPW syndrome
If you have WPW syndrome, you'll experience episodes where your heart suddenly starts racing, before stopping or slowing down abruptly. This rapid heart rate is called supraventricular tachycardia (SV
When to seek medical advice
If you haven't been diagnosed with WPW syndrome, you should contact your GP or call NHS 111 as soon as possible if your heart startsbeating unusually fast and you have any of the above symptoms. Dial
What causes WPW syndrome?
When the heart beats, its muscular walls contract (tighten and squeeze) to force blood out and around the body. They then relax, allowing the heart to fill with blood again. This is controlled by elec
Diagnosing WPW syndrome
Ifyour doctorthinks you might haveWPW syndrome after assessing your symptoms, they'll probably recommendhaving an electrocardiogram (ECG) and will refer you to acardiologist (heart specialist). An ECG
Treatments for WPW syndrome
In many cases, episodes of abnormal heart activity associated with WPW syndrome are harmless, don't last long, and settle down on their own without treatment. You may therefore not need any treatment
Information about you
If you have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, your clinical team will pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scient
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