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Swallowing-induced Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmia
Umair Khalid1, Ali Massumi2, Aziz Shaibani3
1Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
Abstract:
Swallowing-induced supraventricular tachyarrhythmia is an extremely rare entity with unclear pathophysiology. A 55-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of worsening presyncopal symptoms triggered only by drinking liquids of any temperature. Results of a physical examination were unremarkable except for reproducible atrial tachycardias to 180 to 210 beats/minute documented on rhythm strips when the patient was given water to drink. He underwent radiofrequency ablation with complete resolution of symptoms. We reviewed all 43 published cases of swallowing-induced supraventricular tachyarrhythmia in the English-language medical literature. We found only one other reported case induced only by drinking liquids. Radiofrequency ablation appears to be the treatment of choice.
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