Surgical treatment of the WPW-syndrome--experience in 30 initial cases

Between May 1980 and February 1985, 30 patients were operated upon at Sahlgren's Hospital for life-threatening or disabling arrhythmias, caused by Kent's bundles. Two surgical methods were used. The outcome of surgery was fully satisfactory in 19 patients, whereas 4 patients continued to have arrhythmias after surgery. Six patients had a modified delta-wave in the ECG after surgery, but their arrhythmias could be controlled by antiarrhythmic medication. One patient died after surgery due to an undiagnosed cerebral tumor. There were 2 late deaths, between 6 and 12 months postoperatively; neither of these was caused by arrhythmias.