Surgical management of children and young adults with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, as originally described, includes palpitations, tachycardia, and an abnormal electrocardiogram (short PR interval and wide QRS complex). The clinical manifestations are dependent upon a reentrant tachycardia supported by an accessory connection bridging the atrioventricular junction and frequently appear during the first two decades of life. Palpitations are the usual symptoms; less frequently, severe symptoms, such as syncope and sudden death, may result from very rapid atrioventricular conduction across the accessory connection during atrial fibrillation. We report the surgical management of 30 young patients with this syndrome, including 6 with life-threatening tachycardia. Surgical interruption of the accessory connection(s) was curative in 90% (27/30) of the patients; life-threatening symptoms were eliminated in the other three. Based on the limited knowledge of the natural history of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, the individual patient symptoms, and the electrophysiologic properties of each patient's accessory pathway(s), an algorithm is presented outlining the treatment options. This experience strongly suggests that surgical treatment of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is safe, effective, and possibly the preferred treatment for this disorder in selected young symptomatic patients.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41585/1/380_2005_Article_BF02058591.pd

[Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death, European Society of Cardiology. Summary of recommendations].

The European Society of Cardiology has convened a Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death in order to provide a comprehensive, educational document on this important topic. The main document has been published in the European Heart Journal in August 2001. The Task Force has now summarized the most important clinical issues on sudden cardiac death and provided tables with recommendations for risk stratification and for prophylaxis of sudden cardiac death. The present recommendations are specifically intended to encourage the development and revision of national guidelines on prevention of sudden cardiac death. The common challenge for cardiologists, physicians of other medical specialties and health professionals throughout Europe is to realize the potential for sudden cardiac death prevention and to contribute to public health efforts to reduce its burden

Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death, European Society of Cardiology. Summary of Recommendations

The European Society of Cardiology has convened a Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death in order to provide a comprehensive, educational document on this important topic. The main document has been published in the European Heart Journal in August 2001. The Task Force has now summarized the most important clinical issues on sudden cardiac death and provided tables with recommendations for risk stratification and for prophylaxis of sudden cardiac death. The present recommendations are specifically intended to encourage the development and revision of national guidelines on prevention of sudden cardiac death. The common challenge for cardiologists, physicians of other medical specialties and health professionals throughout Europe is to realize the potential for sudden cardiac death prevention and to contribute to public health efforts to reduce its burden

Linee Guida. Task Force sulla Morte Cardiaca Improvvisa, Società Europea di Cardiologia. Riassunto delle raccomandazioni

Italian translation of the executive summary of the European Society of Cardiology Task force on sudden cardiac death

Update of the guidelines on sudden cardiac death of the European Society of Cardiology

The guidelines for the prevention of suddencardiac death (SCD) were published in the August issue of the European Heart Journal in 20011 and the Executive Summary was published in theJanuary issue of Europace.2 In the last 12 months, the release of important data has affected risk stratification and management of patients at riskof dying suddenly. Based on this evidence, the members of the Task Force on SCD of the ESC have decided to revise the original document. Theupdated version of the full document will be published on the ESC website. Here, we review the evidence that has led to the update of two sections: (1) primary prevention of SCD in post-myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure, and (2) primary prevention of SCD in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)