What do you do for supraventricular tachycardia?

As a medical professional, when dealing with a patient presenting with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), the approach involves several steps to ensure the patient's safety and to restore normal heart rhythm. Here's how I would typically proceed: 1. Assess the Patient: Evaluate the patient's symptoms, vital signs, and overall condition to determine the severity of the SVT episode. 2. Stabilize the Patient: If the patient is unstable, immediate medical intervention is required, which may include administering medications to control the heart rate or even electrical cardioversion. 3. Attempt Vagal Maneuvers: For a stable patient, try simple techniques like the Valsalva maneuver or carotid sinus massage to attempt to terminate the SVT. 4. Medication: If vagal maneuvers fail, medications such as adenosine, beta-blockers, or calcium channel blockers may be administered to break the SVT. 5. Cardioversion: In cases where medication is ineffective or contraindicated, synchronized electrical cardioversion may be necessary. 6. Further Evaluation: Once the acute episode is managed, further diagnostic tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or an electrophysiology study may be ordered to identify the underlying cause of the SVT. 7. Long-term Management: Depending on the cause and frequency of SVT episodes, long-term treatment may include lifestyle modifications, medications, or even procedures like catheter ablation. 8. Education and Follow-up: Educate the patient on their condition, the importance of follow-up, and what to do in case of a future episode.

Treatment for sudden-onset (acute) episodes. When episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) start suddenly and cause symptoms, you can try vagal maneuvers-such as gagging, holding your breath and bearing down (Valsalva maneuver), immersing your face in ice-cold water (diving reflex), or coughing.