Management of supraventricular tachycardia in the emergency department

While supraventricular tachycardia is a common condition and seldom leads to serious consequences, it can be challenging to treat. Optimal management requires an accurate diagnosis, especially in the distinction between regular and irregular tachycardias; as well as an understanding of the mechanism responsible for the arrhythmia. In this article, the acute management of supraventricular tachycardias as they present in the emergency department is discussed, based on the underlying electrophysiological principles of arrhythmias.