Management of acute supraventricular tachycardia in children.

QUESTION: Recently, a 3-year-old patient in my practice urgently needed to go to the emergency department. The patient was found to have supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and needed immediate treatment with adenosine. What evidence is currently available for management of SVT in children? ANSWER: Supraventricular tachycardia is a common cardiac condition in the pediatric population that manifests as a narrow QRS complex tachycardia on electrocardiography. Symptoms may range from palpitations, poor feeding, and irritability to more substantial hemodynamic instability. Patients who are hemodynamically stable can benefit from interventions such as vagal maneuvers, which can be done in the office. Such maneuvers include the Valsalva maneuver, stimulation of the diving reflex (for infants), and unilateral carotid sinus massage. Other children may need pharmacologic therapies to restore normal heart rhythm, which usually consists of a rapid intravenous injection of adenosine under monitoring. For patients who are hemodynamically unstable, emergency cardioversion may be needed.

An unmet need: arrhythmia detection by implantable loop recorder in the systemic right ventricle.

AIMS: Patients with systemic right ventricles are at high risk of sudden cardiac death. Arrhythmia is a significant risk factor. Routine Holter monitoring is opportunistic with poor adherence. The aim of this study was to determine if continuous rhythm monitoring with an implantable loop recorder (ILR) could allow early detection of clinically important arrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS: Implantable loop recorder implantation was offered to patients with atrial switch repair for transposition of the great arteries. Recordings were made with symptoms or, automatically for pauses, significant bradycardia or tachycardia and reviewed by the multi-disciplinary team. Twenty-four out of 36 eligible patients underwent ILR implantation with no complication. Forty-two per cent had preserved ventricular function, 75% were NYHA functional class I, 88% had low sudden cardiac death risk, 33% had previous intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia (IART), and none had known conduction disease. Eighteen out of 24 (75%) patients made 52 recordings (52% automated) over 39.5 months (1.6-72.5). Thirty-two out of 52 (62%) recordings in 15/24 (63%) of the cohort were clinically significant and included sinus node disease (two patients), atrioventricular block (two patients), IART (seven patients), and IART with sinus node disease or atrioventricular block (four patients). Implantable loop recorder recordings prompted medication change in 11 patients [beta-blockers (n = 9), anti-coagulation (n = 5), and stopping anti-coagulation (n = 1)] and device therapy recommendation in seven patients [five pacemakers (three: atrioventricular block) and two defibrillators]. Two patients declined intervention; one suffered an arrhythmic death. Intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia and clinically relevant conduction disease were detected in patients irrespective of sudden cardiac death risk. CONCLUSION: Continuous monitoring with an ILR in patients with systemic right ventricle following atrial switch detects clinically relevant arrhythmias that impact decision-making. In this cohort, clinically relevant arrhythmias did not correlate with sudden cardiac death risk.

Supraventricular Tachycardia in the Setting of Neonatal COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 infection, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), may present with a wide range of clinical presentations and a variety of symptoms in neonates. The cardiovascular manifestations that have been described in the setting of COVID-19 infection in neonates are tachycardia and hypotension, but information regarding cardiac arrhythmias is scarce, while the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on myocardial function is still not well established. CLINICAL FINDINGS: We present a case of a neonate admitted with fever and nasal congestion. PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS: The neonate was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) was diagnosed during his hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit. INTERVENTIONS: The neonate was under treatment with intravenous fluid repletion, intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics, and continuous hemodynamic monitoring. SVT resolved spontaneously, while the team was preparing application of further supportive measures with a bag of ice on the infant's face. OUTCOMES: The neonate was discharged in good condition on day 14 post-admission, with no further recurrence of SVT. Follow-up visits were scheduled with the cardiologist. PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS: SVT in full-term or premature neonates can be a clinical manifestation of COVID-19 infection. Both neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners should be prepared to deal with cardiological manifestations of COVID-19 infection in neonates.

Common Types of Supraventricular Tachycardia: Diagnosis and Management.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is an abnormal rapid cardiac rhythm that involves atrial or atrioventricular node tissue from the His bundle or above. Paroxysmal SVT, a subset of supraventricular dysrhythmias, has three common types: atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia, and atrial tachycardia. Presenting symptoms may include altered consciousness, chest pressure or discomfort, dyspnea, fatigue, lightheadedness, or palpitations. Diagnostic evaluation may be performed in the outpatient setting and includes a comprehensive history and physical examination, electrocardiography, and laboratory workup. Extended cardiac monitoring with a Holter monitor or event recorder may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Acute management of paroxysmal SVT is similar across the various types and is best completed in the emergency department or hospital setting. In patients who are hemodynamically unstable, synchronized cardioversion is first-line management. In those who are hemodynamically stable, vagal maneuvers are first-line management, followed by stepwise medication management if ineffective. Beta blockers and/or calcium channel blockers may be used acutely or for long-term suppressive therapy. When evaluating patients for paroxysmal SVTs, clinicians should have a low threshold for referral to a cardiologist for electrophysiologic study and appropriate intervention such as ablation. Clinicians should use a patient-centered approach when formulating a long-term management plan for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. Catheter ablation has a high success rate and is recommended as the first-line method for long-term management of recurrent, symptomatic paroxysmal SVT, including Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Evaluation of the prehospital use of a Valsalva assist device in the emergency treatment of supraventricular tachycardia (EVADE SVT): study protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a common heart arrhythmia, are often attended by ambulance services. International guidelines advocate treatment with the Valsalva manoeuvre (VM), but this simple physical treatment has a low success rate, with most patients requiring conveyance to hospital. The Valsalva Assist Device (VAD) is a simple device that might help practitioners and patients perform a more effective VM and reduce the need for patients to be taken to hospital. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial, conducted within a UK ambulance service, compares the current standard VM with a VAD-delivered VM in stable adult patients presenting to the ambulance service with SVT. The primary outcome is conveyance to hospital; secondary outcomes measures include cardioversion rates, duration of ambulance care and number of subsequent episodes of SVT requiring ambulance service care. We plan to recruit approximately 800 patients, to have 90% power to detect an absolute reduction in conveyance rate of 10% (from 90% to 80%) between the standard VM (control) and VAD-delivered VM (intervention). Such a reduction in conveyance would benefit patients, the ambulance service and receiving emergency departments. It is estimated potential savings would pay for devices for the entire ambulance trust within 7 months. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the Oxford Research Ethics Committee (reference 22/SC/0032). Dissemination will be through peer-reviewed journal publication, presentation at national and international conferences and by the Arrhythmia Alliance, a patient support charity. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN16145266.

Pathophysiology and treatment of adults with arrhythmias in the emergency department, part 1: Atrial arrhythmias.

PURPOSE: This article, the first in a 2-part review, aims to reinforce current literature on the pathophysiology of cardiac arrhythmias and various evidence-based treatment approaches and clinical considerations in the acute care setting. Part 1 of this series focuses on atrial arrhythmias. SUMMARY: Arrhythmias are prevalent throughout the world and a common presenting condition in the emergency department (ED) setting. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide and expected to increase in prevalence. Treatment approaches have evolved over time with advances in catheter-directed ablation. Based on historic trials, heart rate control has been the long-standing accepted outpatient treatment modality for AF, but the use of antiarrhythmics is often still indicated for AF in the acute setting, and ED pharmacists should be prepared and poised to help in AF management. Other atrial arrhythmias include atrial flutter (AFL), atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT), and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT), which warrant distinction due to their unique pathophysiology and because each requires a different approach to utilization of antiarrhythmics. Atrial arrhythmias are typically associated with greater hemodynamic stability than ventricular arrhythmias but still require nuanced management according to patient subset and risk factors. Since antiarrhythmics can also be proarrhythmic, they may destabilize the patient due to adverse effects, many of which are the focus of black-box label warnings that can be overreaching and limit treatment options. Electrical cardioversion for atrial arrhythmias is generally successful and, depending on the setting and/or hemodynamics, often indicated. CONCLUSION: Atrial arrhythmias arise from a variety of mechanisms, and appropriate treatment depends on various factors. A firm understanding of physiological and pharmacological concepts serves as a foundation for exploring evidence supporting agents, indications, and adverse effects in order to provide appropriate care for patients.

[Supraventricular tachycardia]. / Supraventrikuläre Tachykardien.

Supraventricular tachycardia is a common occurrence in routine clinical practice. As a physician, one can encounter them everywhere, whether as a general practitioner or as an emergency doctor in a hospital. Some tachycardias might have robbed an on-call doctor the night or the last nerve; however, supraventricular tachycardia is usually a benign condition that is easily treatable and, in many cases, even curable. This article covers the differential diagnoses of supraventricular tachycardia and its treatment options. Atrial fibrillation, also a supraventricular tachycardia, is not discussed in this article.

A case of supraventricular tachycardia misdiagnosis after dual-chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation with His bundle pacing.

The combined use of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and His bundle pacing (HBP) is believed to benefit patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and atrial fibrillation but needs more guidance built on clinical experience. A patient who had an implanted dual-chamber ICD with HBP presented to our hospital with DCM and atrial fibrillation. In the present case, the criteria for differential diagnosis were set as "if all," which requires matching the morphological template, sudden onset, and interval stability. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) was misdiagnosed as supraventricular tachycardia due to morphological matching to sinus tachycardia. The misdiagnosis and mistaken VT treatment(ICD adaptive treatment) highlight the importance of personalized settings for differential diagnosis to avoid such a misdiagnosis or omission.

Non-Sustained Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Induced by Modified Valsalva in a Pregnant Patient with Supraventricular Tachycardia.

The modified Valsalva maneuver has been promoted as a safe and effective method for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia. Serious adverse events associated with the modified Valsalva maneuver are not well documented. Here we report a case of non-sustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in a pregnant patient associated with the use of the modified Valsalva maneuver by paramedics in the prehospital setting.

"Forced inspiratory suction and swallow tool" a novel instrument to convert paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) to sinus rhythm, a case report and introduction of the device.

Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) is an arrhythmia with sudden onset and termination, characterized by a fast heart rate and a narrow QRS complex. There are several remedies that have been described to convert the SVT, such as the Valsalva maneuver, holding the breath for a few seconds, or putting cold water on the face. Here we are presenting a case of SVT, which we converted to sinus rhythm instantly by using a novel tool that has been designed and patented at the University of Texas. This device is named "Forced Inspiratory Suction and Swallow Tool" (FISST) and is branded as "HiccAway," which is primarily designed to stop hiccups and is available as an over-the-counter tool. It works by drinking water forcibly through a pressure valve, and it follows "Bernoulli's Principle": applications of the law of conservation energy.

Management of gestational supraventricular tachycardia with a 'modified' modified Valsalva manoeuvre.

A 36 year old woman with chest pain and palpitations at 34 weeks gestation (gravidity 2, parity 1) presented to the emergency department where she was found to be in supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). This patient had an earlier episode of SVT during the same pregnancy that was managed with intravenous adenosine. During both presentations a REVERT trial style 'modified' Valsalva manoeuvre (including supine positioning with passive leg raise) was attempted without success. Acknowledging the potential for vena caval compression in pregnant patients while in the Trendelenburg position, the same manoeuvre was attempted with the novel additional of 45 degree left pelvic tilt. This 'modified' modified Valsalva was successful in restoring sinus rhythm, suggesting this technique may warrant further investigation as a viable treatment for pregnant patients with hemodynamically stable SVT.

[Therapeutic effect of a nasal swab: an accidental vagal manoeuvre in a patient with supraventricular tachycardia]. / Nasale swab werkte therapeutisch bij supraventriculaire tachycardie.

BACKGROUND: The case gives the reader a valuable insight in pathophysiology and treatment in atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT) and vagal manoeuvres available to treat this phenomenon. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 85-year-old woman with a medical history of heart failure and aortic valve stenosis presents herself on the Emergency Department with cardiac shock and cardiac asthma. The ECG showed an AVNRT with 170 beats per minute (bpm) and a left bundle branch block (LBBB). After nasal swab for COVID-19 cardiac rhythm converted to a sinus or atrial tachycardia with 116bpm. The patients circulatory status improved and could then be treated with diuretics. Nasal swabs can lead to stimulation of the glossopharyngeal nerve with increase parasympathetic activity leading to a remission of atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia. CONCLUSION: Nasal swabs can lead to increased parasympathetic activity in the atrioventricular node and cause conversion of supraventricular tachycardia to sinus rhythm.