Nonpharmacologic treatment of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and other supraventricular tachycardias.

Nonpharmacologic treatment using surgery or intracardiac catheter ablation can be used for several forms of supraventricular tachycardia. Surgery is highly successful in preventing recurrent tachyarrhythmias in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and can be recommended as first-line treatment in several situations. Catheter ablation of the atrioventricular conduction system combined with an implanted ventricular pacemaker can offer substantial relief to selected patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation. Technical advances in catheter ablation will undoubtedly lead to more widespread use of this form of therapy in supraventricular tachycardia.