Intervention in Undergoing Surgery with Undiagnosed Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome: Case Report

Abstract

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a commonly undiagnosed cardiac rhythm anomaly in a previously healthy patient who may precipitate malignant arrhythmia under surgical stress. We report successful management of a reconstruction surgery patient who developed cardiac arrest under general anesthesia due to undiagnosed WPW syndrome and a malignant arrhythmia during subsequent emergency surgery. A male patient with no previous history of the co-existing disease, age 23 years old underwent 14 hours of leg reconstruction with a posterior back flap. At the end of the surgery, the patient developed malignant arrhythmia that worsens to pulseless ventricular tachycardia. High-quality resuscitation was conducted and resulted in the return of spontaneous circulation. The patient had to undergo emergency surgery the next day, and another episode of intraoperative malignant arrhythmia was treated with propafenone and diltiazem. The patient underwent ablation postoperatively and, on the 14th day, was discharged without any residual complications. In conclusion, WPW may appear asymptomatic in a healthy young patient. Good anesthesia management and monitoring, knowledge of selective antiarrhythmic drugs and high-quality resuscitation skills can provide an optimal outcome in an unpredicted intraoperative crisis.

Keywords

• : arrhythmia, case report, sudden cardiac arrest, tachycardia, wolff-parkinson-white syndrome