Pre-excitation describes
the electrical phenomena occurring in the heart
and seen on ECG in some cases due to the presence of an AP. When there is an associated tachyarrhythmia due to the presence of an AP or in patients who experience symptoms due to the AP, this disorder is termed pre-excitation syndrome (PES).
Is pre-excitation syndrome serious?
The condition predisposes patients to a short circuit in the heart where an impulse can go down one pathway and up another when that second pathway shouldn’t be there. This can cause very rapid heart rates that can be symptomatic in terms of patient comfort, but in
most situations are not dangerous
.
How do you treat pre-excitation syndrome?
Paroxysmal tachyarrhythmias due to accessory atrioventricular pathways are usually not completely suppressible with antiarrhythmic drug therapy. These patients can be treated by
implantable antitachycardia pacemakers or surgical or catheter ablation of accessory pathways
.
What kind of arrhythmia is pre-excitation syndrome?
Preexcitation syndrome can be the cause of
reentrant tachycardia
; in this case it is called Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome. The preferred treatment is often ablation of accessory pathway.
Is pre-excitation syndrome congenital?
Although preexcitation is
a congenital heart defect
, the focus of this chapter will be on the congenital heart abnormalities associated with preexcitation.
What is pre excitation syndrome symptoms?
In patients with an associated tachyarrhythmia and PES, common signs and symptoms include:
palpitations, heart fluttering, racing heartbeat, dizziness, lightheadedness, presyncope/syncope, anxiety
, pounding sensation in the neck/chest, chest discomfort or pain, and shortness of breath.
Is pre excitement syndrome curable?
The condition may not require any treatment at all, but
symptoms can be controlled using medication or catheter ablation
.
Can I exercise with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome?
While some studies suggest that exercise does not alter accessory pathway characteristics, exercise
appears to put some athletes
with WPW at risk for a lethal arrhythmia.
How do you test for Wolf Parkinson White syndrome?
Your doctor will likely recommend tests to diagnose WPW syndrome, such as:
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
. Small sensors attached to your chest and arms record electrical signals as they travel through your heart. Your doctor can look for patterns among these signals that indicate an extra electrical pathway in your heart.
What is Brugada syndrome?
Brugada syndrome is
a genetic disorder that can cause a dangerous irregular heartbeat
. When this happens, the lower chambers of your heart (ventricles) beat fast and irregularly. This prevents blood from circulating correctly in your body.
Is Sinus Arrhythmia serious?
Keep in mind that for the majority of people,
a sinus arrhythmia is neither dangerous nor problematic
. Even if your doctor suspects you have this irregular heartbeat, he may not order the test to check for it. That’s because an EKG can be costly, and a sinus arrhythmia is considered a benign condition.
What drugs are contraindicated in WPW?
| Arrhythmia Drugs contraindicated Drugs Recommended | Antidromic AVRT Adenosine Verapamil Diltiazem β-blockers Digoxin Procainamide Flecainide Propafenone Amiodarone | AF Adenosine Verapamil Diltiazem ß-blockers Digoxin Procainamide Ibutilide Dofelitide Flecainide Amiodarone |
|---|
What causes Torsades de Pointes?
Common causes for torsades de pointes include
drug-induced QT prolongation and less often diarrhea
, low serum magnesium, and low serum potassium or congenital long QT syndrome. It can be seen in malnourished individuals and chronic alcoholics, due to a deficiency in potassium and/or magnesium.
What is an accessory pathway in the heart?
An accessory pathway is
an aberrant cardiac muscle bundle that often is capable of rapid conduction and that connects the atrium to the ventricle
, usually at the atrioventricular (AV) annulus. Accessory pathways are a consequence of incomplete embryologic development of the AV annulus and sometimes may be genetic.
Is WPW a congenital heart disease?
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) is
a type of heart condition you are born with (congenital)
. It causes a rapid heart rate. If you have WPW, you may have episodes of palpitations or rapid heartbeats. WPW affects less than 1 in 100 people.
Which rhythm is described as having beats that occur before the next expected normal beat?
The normal sinus rhythm
is sometimes interrupted by a beat occurring before the expected time of the next sinus beat and is therefore referred to as a premature beat; the terms “ectopic beat” and “extrasystole” are frequently used synonyms.
