Objective: To determine the approach that pediatric electrophysiologists use as they evaluate asymptomatic patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome regarding electrophysiologic testing and radio frequency ablation.
Methods: A 21-question survey was mailed to 66 pediatric electrophysiologists who had voluntarily submitted patient data at any time to the Pediatric Radio Frequency Ablation Registry since its inception in 1990. The survey addressed issues regarding physician experience with electrophysiologic testing and radio frequency ablation, risk assessment, electrophysiology study, and factors that influence the decision to perform radio frequency ablation in asymptomatic patients.
Results: Returned surveys (43 of 66 [65%]) were analyzed blindly. The 43 physicians who responded were experienced, with 37 reporting >5 years of performing radio frequency ablation and 30 having performed >200 radio frequency ablation procedures. Thirty-six of the 43 electrophysiologists used invasive electrophysiologic study for risk stratification in asymptomatic patients with WPW. Electrophysiologic findings guided selection of patients for radio frequency ablation procedures. Expected radio frequency ablation outcome quotes to the family were consistent with recently published data from the Electrophysiology Society regarding current-era experience with radio frequency ablation.
Conclusion: The majority of responding electrophysiologists use invasive electrophysiologic study both to stratify risk for asymptomatic WPW and to select appropriate patients for radio frequency ablation. This current practice should be communicated to other pediatric cardiologists and pediatricians.