Catastrophic WPW syndrome in a 13-month child: cure by radiofrequency ablation.

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome occurs due to an accessory atrioventricular bypass tract. The prevalence of WPW electrocardiographic pattern has been estimated to be 0.1%-0.3% in the general population, with the annual incidence of new cases reported to be 4 per 100,000 population per year (l). While the commonest age of presentation is the second decade of life (2)/ unusually tachycardia episodes occur in infancy. These episodes may be fatal, especially if resistant to medication. Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is a curative procedure for WPW syndrome but is technically demanding and potentially hazardous in infancy. We report the successful cure of catastrophic WPW syndrome in a 13 month child by radiofrequency ablation.