[PDF] attribut svt def

What are the symptoms of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)?

Palpitations, feeling faint, sweating, shortness of breath, chest pain. Supraventricular tachycardia ( SVT) is an umbrella term for fast heart rhythms arising from the upper part of the heart. This is in contrast to the other group of fast heart rhythms – ventricular tachycardia, which start within the lower chambers of the heart.

What is SVT & how does it affect the heart?

SVT occurs when faulty electrical connections in the heart set off a series of early beats in the upper chambers of the heart (atria). When this happens, the heart rate speeds up very quickly. The heart doesn't have enough time to fill with blood before the chambers contract.

What causes ventricular tachycardia (SVT)?

The most common cause of SVT is an orthodromic reentry phenomenon, which occurs when the tachycardia is secondary to normal anterograde electrical conduction from the atria to the AV node to the ventricles, with retrograde conduction via an accessory pathway from the ventricles back to the atrial.

How do I know if my child has SVT?

In infants and very young children, signs and symptoms of SVT may be difficult to identify. They include sweating, poor feeding, pale skin and a rapid pulse. If your infant or young child has any of these symptoms, ask your child's care provider about SVT screening.