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Updated: Apr 5, 2026

Electrophysiological Assessment of Murine Atria with High-Resolution Optical Mapping
Published on: February 22, 2018
Electrophysiology testing and catheter ablation are helpful when evaluating asymptomatic patients with
Allan C Skanes1, Manoj Obeyesekere2, George J Klein1
1Arrhythmia Services, University Hospital, Western University, 339 Windermere Road, London, Ontario N6A 5A5, Canada.
Abstract:
The association between asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome and sudden cardiac death (SCD) has been well documented. The inherent properties of the accessory pathway determine the risk of SCD in WPW, and catheter ablation essentially eliminates this risk. An approach to WPW syndrome is needed that incorporates the patient's individualized considerations into the decision making. Patients must understand that there is a trade-off of a small immediate risk of an invasive approach for elimination of a small lifetime risk of the natural history of asymptomatic WPW. Clinicians can minimize the invasive risk by only performing ablation for patients with at-risk pathways.
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