eMedicine Specialties > Cardiology > Arrhythmias

Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia: Multimedia

Author: Monika Gugneja, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital
Coauthor(s): Phillip L Kraft, MD, Director, Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, William Beaumont Hospital
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 12, 2009

Multimedia

Sinus tachycardia. Note that the QRS complexes ar...Media file 1: Sinus tachycardia. Note that the QRS complexes are narrow and regular. The patient's heart rate is approximately 135 bpm. P waves are normal in morphology.
Sinus tachycardia. Note that the QRS complexes ar...

Sinus tachycardia. Note that the QRS complexes are narrow and regular. The patient's heart rate is approximately 135 bpm. P waves are normal in morphology.

Atrial tachycardia. The patient's heart rate is 1...Media file 2: Atrial tachycardia. The patient's heart rate is 151 bpm. P waves are upright in lead V1.
Atrial tachycardia. The patient's heart rate is 1...

Atrial tachycardia. The patient's heart rate is 151 bpm. P waves are upright in lead V1.

Multifocal atrial tachycardia. Note the different...Media file 3: Multifocal atrial tachycardia. Note the different P-wave morphologies and irregularly irregular ventricular response.
Multifocal atrial tachycardia. Note the different...

Multifocal atrial tachycardia. Note the different P-wave morphologies and irregularly irregular ventricular response.

Atrial flutter. The patient's heart rate is appro...Media file 4: Atrial flutter. The patient's heart rate is approximately 135 bpm with 2:1 conduction. Note the sawtooth pattern formed by the flutter waves.
Atrial flutter. The patient's heart rate is appro...

Atrial flutter. The patient's heart rate is approximately 135 bpm with 2:1 conduction. Note the sawtooth pattern formed by the flutter waves.

Atrial fibrillation. The patient's ventricular ra...Media file 5: Atrial fibrillation. The patient's ventricular rate varies from 130-168 bpm. Rhythm is irregularly irregular. P waves are not discernible.
Atrial fibrillation. The patient's ventricular ra...

Atrial fibrillation. The patient's ventricular rate varies from 130-168 bpm. Rhythm is irregularly irregular. P waves are not discernible.

Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. The...Media file 6: Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. The patient's heart rate is approximately 146 bpm with a normal axis. Note the pseudo S waves in leads II, III, and aVF. Also note the pseudo R' waves in V1 and aVR. These deflections represent retrograde atrial activation.
Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. The...

Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. The patient's heart rate is approximately 146 bpm with a normal axis. Note the pseudo S waves in leads II, III, and aVF. Also note the pseudo R' waves in V1 and aVR. These deflections represent retrograde atrial activation.

Same patient as in Media file 6. Patient is in si...Media file 7: Same patient as in Media file 6. Patient is in sinus rhythm following atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.
Same patient as in Media file 6. Patient is in si...

Same patient as in Media file 6. Patient is in sinus rhythm following atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Image A displays the slow pathway and the fast pa...Media file 8: Image A displays the slow pathway and the fast pathway, with a regular impulse being conducted through the atrioventricular node. Image B displays a premature impulse that is conducted in an anterograde manner through the slow pathway and in a retrograde manner through the fast pathway, as is seen in typical atrioventricular nodal tachycardia. Image C displays the premature impulse conducting in a retrograde manner through the pathway and the impulse reentering the pathway with anterograde conduction, which is seen commonly in patients with atypical atrioventricular nodal tachycardia.
Image A displays the slow pathway and the fast pa...

Image A displays the slow pathway and the fast pathway, with a regular impulse being conducted through the atrioventricular node. Image B displays a premature impulse that is conducted in an anterograde manner through the slow pathway and in a retrograde manner through the fast pathway, as is seen in typical atrioventricular nodal tachycardia. Image C displays the premature impulse conducting in a retrograde manner through the pathway and the impulse reentering the pathway with anterograde conduction, which is seen commonly in patients with atypical atrioventricular nodal tachycardia.

Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern. Note the short PR ...Media file 9: Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern. Note the short PR interval and slurred upstroke (delta wave) to the QRS complexes.
Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern. Note the short PR ...

Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern. Note the short PR interval and slurred upstroke (delta wave) to the QRS complexes.

The left image displays the atrioventricular node...Media file 10: The left image displays the atrioventricular node with the accessory pathway. The impulse is conducted in an anterograde manner in the atrioventricular node and in a retrograde manner in the accessory pathway. This circuit is known as orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia and can occur in patients with concealed accessory tracts or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The right image displays the impulse being conducted in an anterograde manner through the accessory pathway and in a retrograde manner via the atrioventricular node. This type of circuit is known as antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia and only occurs in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Both patterns may display retrograde P waves after the QRS complexes.
The left image displays the atrioventricular node...

The left image displays the atrioventricular node with the accessory pathway. The impulse is conducted in an anterograde manner in the atrioventricular node and in a retrograde manner in the accessory pathway. This circuit is known as orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia and can occur in patients with concealed accessory tracts or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The right image displays the impulse being conducted in an anterograde manner through the accessory pathway and in a retrograde manner via the atrioventricular node. This type of circuit is known as antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia and only occurs in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Both patterns may display retrograde P waves after the QRS complexes.

Orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardi...Media file 11: Orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia. This patient has Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardi...

Orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia. This patient has Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

The left panel depicts antidromic atrioventricula...Media file 12: The left panel depicts antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia. The right panel depicts sinus rhythm in a patient with antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia. Note that the QRS complex is an exaggeration of the delta wave during sinus rhythm.
The left panel depicts antidromic atrioventricula...

The left panel depicts antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia. The right panel depicts sinus rhythm in a patient with antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia. Note that the QRS complex is an exaggeration of the delta wave during sinus rhythm.

Atrial fibrillation in a patient with Wolff-Parki...Media file 13: Atrial fibrillation in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Note the extremely rapid ventricular rate and variability in QRS morphology. Several minutes later, the patient developed ventricular fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation in a patient with Wolff-Parki...

Atrial fibrillation in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Note the extremely rapid ventricular rate and variability in QRS morphology. Several minutes later, the patient developed ventricular fibrillation.

More on Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia

Overview: Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
Treatment & Medication: Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
Follow-up: Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
Multimedia: Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
References

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Further Reading

Keywords

paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, PSVT, supraventricular tachycardia, SVT, multifocal atrial tachycardia, MAT, tachyarrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, AF, conduction pathway disturbance, conduction pathway abnormality, conduction pathway anomaly, dysrhythmia, heart condition, heart rhythm problem, atrial tachyarrhythmia, atrioventricular tachyarrhythmia, AV tachyarrhythmia, sinus tachycardia, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, IST, sinusnodal reentranttachycardia, SNRT, atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter, AV tachyarrhythmias, AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, AVNRT, atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia, AV reentrant tachycardia, AVRT, junctional ectopic tachycardia, JET, nonparoxysmal junctional tachycardia, NPJT, heartfailure, pulmonary edema, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, syncope, sudden death, tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy, WPW syndrome

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Monika Gugneja, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Phillip L Kraft, MD, Director, Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, William Beaumont Hospital
Phillip L Kraft, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians, and Michigan State Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Alan D Forker, MD, Professor of Medicine, Program Director of Cardiovascular Fellowship, University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine; Director, Outpatient Lipid Diabetes Research Center, MidAmerica Heart Institute of St Luke's Hospital
Alan D Forker, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Society of Hypertension, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Research Grant Grant/research funds Hospital contracts to do research; I am a hospital employee with no personal profit; Speakers Bureau Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Brian Olshansky, MD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine
Brian Olshansky, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Autonomic Society, American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Heart Association, Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, Heart Rhythm Society, and New York Academy of Sciences
Disclosure: Guidant/Boston Scientific Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Medtronic Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Guidant/Boston Scientific Consulting fee Consulting; Reliant Grant/research funds Other; Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Novartis Consulting fee Consulting

CME Editor

Amer Suleman, MD, Consultant in Electrophysiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical City Dallas Hospital
Amer Suleman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Institute of Stress, American Society of Hypertension, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Royal Society of Medicine, and Society of Cardiac Angiography and Interventions
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michael E Zevitz, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Finch University of the Health Sciences, The Chicago Medical School; Consulting Staff, Private Practice
Michael E Zevitz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, and Michigan State Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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