Common supraventricular tachycardias: mechanisms and management

Electrocardiographic manifestations: narrow QRS complex tachycardias

Narrow QRS complex tachycardia is a common dysrhythmia in Emergency Medicine practice. Diagnosis and mechanism often can be made by 12-lead electrocardiographic (EKG) analysis but may subsequently require electrophysiologic testing. The clinical manifestations are varied and dependent upon heart rate, prior cardiac disease, and general physiologic status. Patient management is directed towards the etiology and mechanism of the dysrhythmia and includes vagal maneuvers, pharmacologic therapy, and cardioversion. Hemodynamically compromised patients must be promptly treated. Patients are often admitted to the hospital but selected patients can be safely discharged from the Emergency Department for outpatient evaluation and management. Pediatric and pregnant patients are, in general, treated the same as adults. Several case examples and EKGs are presented.