What does the presence of delta waves in a patient's EKG often indicate?

What does the presence of delta waves in a patient's EKG often indicate?

• A. Atrial fibrillation
• B. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
• C. Ventricular fibrillation
• D. Normal sinus rhythm

Answer: (B)

The presence of delta waves in a patient's EKG is commonly associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Delta waves represent a specific abnormality on the EKG caused by an accessory conduction pathway, known as the Bundle of Kent, that allows electrical impulses to bypass the normal conduction system of the heart. This can lead to a pre-excitation of the ventricles, which is visually represented as delta waves on the EKG, characterized by a slurred upstroke in the QRS complex.

In contrast, the other conditions listed do not produce delta waves. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by an irregularly irregular rhythm with no distinct P waves, while ventricular fibrillation presents with chaotic electrical activity resulting in no identifiable waveforms. Normal sinus rhythm shows a regular rhythm with a clear P wave, QRS complex, and T wave, without any pre-excitation features like delta waves. Hence, the identification of delta waves points specifically to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome as the correct interpretation.