Nonpharmacological therapy of supraventricular arrhythmias: surgery and catheter ablation techniques

Treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias has undergone substantial change and development over the past decade. Pharmacological approaches to management of supraventricular arrhythmias have been supplanted by nonpharmacological techniques. These nonpharmacological techniques are the subject of the present review. The first part of this review will concentrate on the nonpharmacological techniques available for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia, excluding Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, whereas Part 2 will concentrate on the surgical and the ablative procedures for management of tachycardias associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Pacing techniques for termination of supraventricular tachycardias are beyond the scope of this article and will not be included in the discussion.