hospital management of supraventricular tachycardia

Last reviewed 01/2018

If the patient is in SVT then:

  • in the acute situation the protocols laid down in the section on resuscitation should be followed

  • there should be correction of any acid-balance or electrolyte disturbances

  • if there is no haemodynamic compromise then long-term therapy can be initiated. This may be using drugs such as amiodarone or digoxin (DO NOT use digoxin in Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome)

  • long-term treatment may involve surgical ablation of aberrant pathways e.g. radiofrequency ablation of the bundle of Kent