Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia of unusual etiology: a case report

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a serious cardiac disturbance that can arise spontaneously or be initiated by noncardiac mechanisms. An occurrence of this dysrhythmia in a 55-year-old male undergoing monitored anesthesia care for excision of a subxiphoid subcutaneous mass is reported. The unusual cause of this patient's ectopy is discussed. The nature and treatment of PSVT are reviewed, as are the clinical considerations for anesthetists who encounter a comparable clinical problem.