[Surgical treatment of multiple accessory pathways in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome]

The electrophysiological sign of multiple accessory pathways in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW syndrome) is complicated. Surgical interruption is difficult in those patients. In 8 patients with multiple accessory pathways in the WPW syndrome, 5 were treated by local intramyocardial injection of absolute alcohol, and 3 by dissection of accessory pathways under cardiopulmonary bypass. There were no operative or late deaths. The patients were followed-up for 13 to 76 months. Symptoms disappeared in 6 patients. Short tachycardia attacks were noted in 2 patients but none received antiarrhythmic agents. We consider that dissection is better than local intramyocardial injection of absolute alcohol in the treatment of WPW syndrome with multiple accessory pathways, and that is especially suitable for the patient with multiple accessory pathways in one side of the heart.