Ventricular Tachyeardia during Cardiac Cathe - terization of Patient with Wolff - Parkinson - White Syndrome

T HE Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome consists of an abnormally short P-R interval, usually prolonged duration of QRS complexes, and history of repeated episodes of paroxysmal tachycardia.' Variations of QRS complex have been observed during tachycardia, following exercise or atropine sulfate,1 or even while patients were at rest.2 The paroxysmal tachyeardias have been generally supraventricular, especially auricular, occasionally auricular fibrillation,' and rarely paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia.3'8 Although the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is usually unassociated with organic heart disease, rheumatic disease has been observed not infrequently.'3 Sudden death of patients with this syndrome has warranted a guarded prognosis.14 Short paroxysms of ventricular tachycardia are known to occur occasionally during cardiac catheterization and to stop promptly following partial withdrawal of the catheter tip.9 Two cases of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, subjected to cardiac catheterization, have been reported by Ferrer and associates."0 Each ex-