Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in children: A single-center experience

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with intermittent and persistent Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome.
METHODS: Children followed up with the diagnosis of intermittent WPW and WPW syndrome between 2014 and 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. The age, gender, duration of follow-up, admission reasons, electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, and ambulatory ECG findings, electrophysiological study and ablation results were analyzed.
RESULTS: The study included 99 children with intermittent WPW and 38 children with WPW syndrome. The most common complaint on admission was palpitation (28.5%), murmur (22.6%), and chest pain (19%). Seven of the cases had a history of documented supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and one of them had SVT on admission. On initial ECG 40.9% and 27.7% of the cases had intermittent and persistent WPW, respectively. Ninety-five (69.4%) cases had a structurally normal heart, whereas congenital heart disease, valvular disease, and mild septal hypertrophy were found in 25 (18.3%), 16 (11.7%), and 1 case, respectively. In the whole study group, 49 (35.8%) cases underwent electrophysiological study (EPS). Five cases had a diagnostic procedure and catheter ablation was performed in 39 (28.5%) cases. Five cases were lost from follow-up after referral for EPS. Recurrence was observed in only one case and none of the cases had any adverse event.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis, risk stratification, and appropriate management of patients with WPW syndrome are crucial. The electrophysiological study is used as a risk stratification tool and catheter ablation is a safe curative procedure in high-risk patients.