A Case Report of Successful Resuscitation Following Ventricular Fibrillation Secondary to Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Abstract

We present a case of a 14-year-old male with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome, who was successfully resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation which occurred during basketball practice. He had no family history of unexplained sudden death or syncope. Bystander-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was provided there, and shocks using an automated external defibrillator (AED) were delivered by the rescue crews. Fortunately, the patient recovered without after-effects. An electrophysiological study was performed; atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia and fast-slow type of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia were induced. Successful catheter ablation of the accessory pathway and slow pathway was performed.
It is unusual that cardiac arrest is the first symptomatic manifestation of WPW syndrome. This case supports the concept of indication for management of asymptomatic patients with WPW syndrome including electrophysiological study and catheter ablation because the catheter ablation of the accessory pathway is still very effective and low risk.