Nursing grand rounds: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: a challenging case study

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome involves connections of myocardial fibers between the atrium and ventricle that can carry electrical impulses outside of the normal conduction system. Treatment options include pharmacologic management, surgical interruption, antitachycardia devices, or transvenous catheter ablation. This is a case study of a patient who underwent surgical ablation of an accessory pathway and reoperation because of continued abnormal conduction. She had tachypalpitations after both procedures and later underwent radiofrequency ablation. Nursing care was complicated because she spoke very little English and was extremely anxious about her illness.