AANA Journal: A Subtle ECG Change Leading to Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Diagnosis Under General Anesthesia: A Case Report-A Subtle ECG Change Leading to Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Diagnosis Under General Anesthesia: A Case Report

A Subtle ECG Change Leading to Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Diagnosis Under General Anesthesia: A Case Report

Pdf Summary

"Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a rare congenital cardiac condition characterized by an accessory pathway that can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. A case report detailed the incidental discovery of WPW pattern in a 43-year-old woman during hip surgery under general anesthesia. Despite being asymptomatic, the patient was advised to seek cardiology evaluation for accurate diagnosis due to the potential risks associated with WPW. The anesthetic management focused on preparing for possible arrhythmias and ensuring proper follow-up care. WPW can manifest as various arrhythmias, with treatment options depending on the type. Anesthesia can influence WPW presentation, and care must be taken to balance sympathetic and parasympathetic responses. Testing and treatment of asymptomatic WPW patients can be challenging, with recommendations varying among experts. In the reported case, the patient's condition was monitored postoperatively, leading to the diagnosis of intermittent preexcitation rhythms suggestive of WPW pattern. The patient was advised to consider catheter ablation if symptoms worsened. Anesthesia providers play a crucial role in identifying subtle ECG changes in asymptomatic WPW patients, highlighting the importance of postoperative follow-up for appropriate medical management to prevent life-threatening arrhythmias."

Keywords

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

WPW syndrome

congenital cardiac condition

accessory pathway

arrhythmias

anesthesia management

catheter ablation

ECG changes

postoperative follow-up

life-threatening arrhythmias