Supraventricular tachycardia
AVNRT, AVRT and atrial tachycardia, the modified Valsalva and adenosine, Wolff-Parkinson-White traps, and catheter ablation as first-line cure.
Tier 1Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- SVT here means paroxysmal regular tachycardia that needs the atria or AV node to sustain it: AVNRT, AVRT (accessory pathway) and focal atrial tachycardia. Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter have their own notes.
- Typical story: sudden-onset, sudden-offset regular palpitations, often in a young woman, terminated by breath-holding or straining.
- Acute steps: modified Valsalva, then adenosine, then verapamil or a beta-blocker, then synchronised DC cardioversion if unstable or refractory.
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Sources
- 2019 ESC Guidelines for the management of patients with supraventricular tachycardiaEuropean Society of Cardiology (European Heart Journal, doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehz467), 2019
- 2015 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline for the Management of Adult Patients With Supraventricular TachycardiaAmerican College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and Heart Rhythm Society (Circulation), 2015
- Therapeutic Guidelines - CardiovascularAU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Limited, 2023
- Postural modification to the standard Valsalva manoeuvre for emergency treatment of supraventricular tachycardias (REVERT): a randomised controlled trialThe Lancet (Appelboam A et al.), 2015
- 2025 ESC Guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease and pregnancyEuropean Society of Cardiology (European Heart Journal, doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf193), 2025
- Assessing Fitness to Drive for commercial and private vehicle driversAU/NZAustroads and the National Transport Commission, 2022
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Turnstile bot check on sign-in and signed-out feedback