Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

 WHAT IS IT?

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) refers to an elevated heart rate that is initiated/conducted by atrial and/or atrioventricular nodal tissues.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

SVT is commonly caused by a reentry mechanism. Specific causes of SVT include:

WHY IS IT CONCERNING MEDICALLY?

 

WHAT IS THE INTIAL PRESENTATION?

Patient Chief Complaints:

  • Usually asymptomatic when patients are between episodes of tachycardia
  • Symptoms during tachycardia: palpitations , fatigue, chest pain, dyspnea, anxiety

Detected Medical Problems:

  • Tachycardia that is rapid, regular, and often paroxysmal 
  • EKG findings specific to SVT (discussed more below)
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY?

Risk Factors:

 

Medical History:

 

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE PHYSICAL EXAM?

Vital Signs:

 

Other:

 

CLINICAL WORKUP: SERUM STUDIES

 

CLINICAL WORKUP: IMAGING

 

CLINICAL WORKUP: ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) can show the following findings:

  • Absent/indistinguishable P waves 
  • Narrow QRS complex (<0.08s)
HOW DO WE NARROW THE DIFFERENTIAL?

Conditions that present similarly and how to exclude them:

 

WHAT IS OUR THRESHOLD FOR DIAGNOSING THIS CONDITION?

 

PATIENT MANAGMENT: SYMPTOM RELEIF

Administer 100% oxygen and ventilate as needed

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: DISEASE TREATMENT

Adenosine can be used to terminate some types of SVT

Synchronized cardioversion 

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES

 

COULD THIS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?

 

ARCHIVE OF STANDARDIZED EXAM QUESTIONS 

This archive compiles standardized exam questions that relate to this topic.

 

Page Updated: 02.18.2017