ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE WPW SYNDROME IN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

We have studied 43 patients aged 15 to 18 with ventricular pre-excitation through the Kent bundle. A complex examination included ECG, echocardiography, Holter monitoring, transesophageal stimulation, and transesophageal ECG. The phenomenon of WPW was noted in 20 persons, WPW syndrome in 23. We have shown the influence of vegetative nervous system on the AV-conduction and an extra conducting pathway. A constant and transitory variant of ventricular pre-excitation was noted in the absence of high vagus tone. A hidden variant of pre-excitation is related to a significant vagus influence. In adolescents prone to high sympathetic tone ventricular pre-excitation through the Kent bundle is manifested as the WPW syndrome whereas the WPW phenomenon is observed with the nervous system inclined to a more pronounced vagal tone. Transesophageal stimulation with atropin is indicated for adolescents to assess the nature of pre-excitation through the Kent bundle adequately and reveal arrhythmias.