A’s Leiper Expected to Have Surgery to Correct a Rare Heart Disorder

Oakland Athletics’ left-hander Dave Leiper is expected to undergo open-heart surgery next month to correct a disorder called Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a team doctor said Thursday.

Leiper, 27, could be out of action for as long as one year, but the success rate of this particular surgery is 98%, according to team physician Alan Pont.

The disorder involves the electrical system of the heart. While most people have one path over which electricity travels, those suffering from the syndrome have two or three paths that lead to periodic rapid increases in the heart rate, Pont said.

The condition itself is not life-threatening, but it can lead to other complications.

Leiper suffered two episodes last July while pitching for the San Diego Padres. He had just received medical clearance to pitch for the A’s when he had another rapid heart-rate increase on March 12 at the A’s Scottsdale Community College minor league training camp.