What is Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome associated with?

What is Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome associated with?

• A. Normal conduction between the atria and ventricles
• B. Short-circuiting of ventricular contraction due to an accessory pathway
• C. Increased delay in ventricular depolarization
• D. Complete blockage of electrical impulses

Answer: (B)

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is characterized by the presence of an accessory pathway, known as the Bundle of Kent, that allows electrical impulses to bypass the normal conduction system of the heart. This abnormal pathway short-circuits the conduction from the atria to the ventricles, which leads to a rapid and potentially dangerous type of tachycardia. When the atria contract, the impulse can travel down the accessory pathway directly into the ventricles rather than following the usual pathways through the atrioventricular (AV) node, causing early ventricular depolarization.

In contrast, normal conduction would imply a functioning electrical pathway without any accessory routes, which is not the case in WPW syndrome. Increased delay in ventricular depolarization would suggest a problem in the conduction system, typically seen in conditions like bundle branch blocks, which is not associated with WPW. Lastly, complete blockage of electrical impulses is indicative of more severe conduction issues such as complete heart block, unrelated to WPW syndrome, where there is a total failure of impulse transmission instead of a bypass pathway. Understanding WPW’s mechanism aids in recognizing its clinical implications, including the potential for life-threatening arrhythmias.