Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is an abnormally fast heart rate of over 100 heartbeats a minute. SVT usually refers to regular fast heart rhythms, as opposed to AF (atrial fibrillation) which is irregular. There are 3 different types of treatment for SVT. Usually the first manoeuvre to be used is the Valsalva manoeuvre. This is intended to slow down the electrical impulses in the heart by stimulating a nerve called the vagus nerve. The Valsalva manoeuvre usually involves holding your nose, closing your mouth and trying to exhale hard, while straining as if you were on the toilet. There are also anti-arrhythmic drugs such as beta-blockers, verapamil, flecainide etc. However, these have varying side-effects. The third and, most likely, the most successful method is catheter ablation for SVT. Ablation involves a procedure where fine wires are advanced from veins at the top of the leg to the heart. Pacing the heart can then induce SVT. Heat applied from the tip of one of the wires causes a tiny area of localized tissue damage (the tissue is cauterized, or more properly ‘ablated’). This destroys one limb of the abnormal circuit and so cures the arrhythmia.
within miles ...
Hospitals and clinics covered by:
Heart clinic run by Regent’s Park Healthcare
Cambridge, CB2 0QQ
01223 3... 01223 349 349 Reveal phone no. >
Private hospital
Barnet, EN5 5TS
0207317... 0207317 7751 Reveal phone no. >
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
01752 4... 01752 437837 Reveal phone no. >
Bournemouth, BH7 7DW
01202 1... 01202 117250 Reveal phone no. >
Cancer clinic
London, W1G 7JL
Maidstone, ME14 5FT