Treatment of Supraventricular tachycardia

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In many cases the symptoms of SVT stop quickly, and no treatment is needed. Attempts to stop SVT by any means should only be carried out after an ECG has been performed in hospital.

Non- drug methods may be tried where the person is asked to hold the nose with the fingers, close the mouth and to breath out strongly (Valsalva manoeuvre) or by someone massaging the carotid sinus in the neck.

If symptoms last for long or are severe, medicines can be injected into a vein. These block the electrical impulses in the heart. Intravenous adenosine is the treatment of choice, with intravenous verapamil usually given when this is contraindicated, for example in asthma patients.

Electric shock treatment (cardio version) under sedation is also occasionally used to stop an episode of SVT. Medication may be prescribed to prevent further episodes of SVT.

These include digoxin, veraparmil, and beta blockers which interfere with the electrical impulses in the heart.

Radio frequency ablation is a procedure where catheters are placed inside the heart and a map of electrical activity is charted. When the source of the abnormality is found high- energy radio waves are used to remove the tissue. Ablation has a high success rate in curing SVT.