Overview
Supraventricular tachycardia encompasses rapid rhythms originating in the atria or involving the atrioventricular node or accessory pathways.
Clinical Features
Symptoms typically begin and end abruptly and may include palpitations, dizziness, dyspnea, chest discomfort, or syncope.
Hemodynamic instability may occur when ventricular rates are very rapid or underlying cardiac disease is present.
ECG Findings
The rhythm is often regular with a narrow QRS complex, although wide-complex presentations require careful assessment.
Management
Hemodynamically stable patients may be treated initially with vagal maneuvers when appropriate, followed by pharmacological termination depending on the rhythm.
Unstable patients require synchronized cardioversion.
Clinical Pearls
Sudden-onset, sudden-offset, regular narrow-complex tachycardia strongly suggests SVT.
END OF REVIEW
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