Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

In the absence of symptoms, what is the recommended treatment for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW)?

1. IV Fluids

2. Oxygen (O2)

3. Defibrillation

4. Electrical Cardioversion

The correct answer is: Oxygen (O2)

In the absence of symptoms in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW), the appropriate treatment primarily focuses on reassurance and monitoring rather than active intervention. The key here is that WPW can lead to episodes of tachycardia or arrhythmias; however, if there are no symptoms indicating hemodynamic instability, immediate treatments like intravenous fluids or oxygen are unnecessary and would not address the underlying condition effectively. Oxygen administration is generally used to support patients with respiratory distress or hypoxia, but in a symptomatic patient, it might be considered. However, in asymptomatic WPW patients, there's typically no indication for oxygen use, as they are not in respiratory distress. Defibrillation and electrical cardioversion are emergency interventions used for treating significant arrhythmias or cardiac arrest scenarios. They are not appropriate for asymptomatic WPW because the risks of these actions do not outweigh the benefits when the patient shows no signs of distress or tachycardia. Thus, the focus for a patient with WPW who does not exhibit symptoms is to monitor their condition and provide reassurance rather than taking invasive or intensive treatment steps. The correct approach reflects an understanding of managing asymptomatic patients with this condition.