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Supraventricular (narrow complex) tachycardias 

Supraventricular (narrow complex) tachycardias
Chapter:
Supraventricular (narrow complex) tachycardias
Author(s):

Julio Martí-Almor

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780198759935.003.0012_update_001

Update:

Tables 4.2.2, 4.2.3, and 4.2.4 extensively updated

Further reading added

Updated on 29 July 2020. The previous version of this content can be found here.
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date: 25 October 2020

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) includes all tachycardia rhythms (more than 100 bpm), of which the mechanism involves the His Bundle or tissues above it. Usually, these tachyarrhythmias present a narrow QRS complex (except in the presence of a bundle branch block or a manifest accessory pathway which conducts anterogradely to cause a ventricular pre-excitation pattern on the electrocardiogram). This chapter only focuses on narrow QRS complex SVT involving the atrial tissue, the atrioventricular node, and accessory pathways. Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are excluded because they are specifically covered in other chapters. The role of antiarrhythmic drugs in SVTs is mainly restricted to acute situations because ablative therapy has surrogate pharmacotherapy and ablation is considered the best long-term treatment for most cases. Nevertheless, it is very important to know how to deal with antiarrhythmic drugs in emergency situations.

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