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The Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
- THOMAS N. JAMES, M.D., F.A.C.P.
- Requests for reprints should be addressed to Thomas N. James, M.D., University of Alabama Medical Center, Birmingham, Ala.
Excerpt
In a very real sense one may look on the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome as the Rosetta stone of electrocardiography, since a full understanding of all its features and their possible mechanisms encompasses many fundamentally important principles. In any discussion of this syndrome it is essential to keep in mind that the original descriptions included not only the characteristic QRS complex of ventricular preexcitation but also paroxysmal arrhythmias and excessive numbers of premature beats. There is furthermore the long-known but poorly understood influence of vagus nerve stimulation, which paradoxically may either precipitate or terminate an arrhythmia in the syndrome. Because of
Article and Author Information
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From the University of Alabama Medical Center, Birmingham, Ala.
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Supported in part by grants HE-11310 and PH-43-67-1441, U. S. Public Health Service, Washington, D. C.
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- Received April 9, 1969.
- Accepted May 2, 1969.
