Left ventricular dysfunction in a child with asymptomatic pre-excitation: cure with catheter ablation

Abstract

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, is known to cause left ventricular dysfunction or dilated cardiomyopathy secondary to sustained tachycardia in infants and children. However, left ventricular dysfunction secondary to pre-excitation related abnormal ventricular activation has been reported in a limited number of cases. This condition should be recognized early, as catheter ablation of the accessory pathway can permit rapid ventricular function improvement. In this paper, we present a 2.5-year-old patient diagnosed with tachycardia-free Wolff -Parkinson-White syndrome with a right free wall accessory pathway and depressed cardiac function, whose left ventricular function is completely restored after successful catheter cryoablation.