Atrioventricular Node Reentry Supraventricular Tachycardia Follow-up

  • Author: Glenn T Wetzel, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Stuart Berger, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 12, 2012
 

Further Inpatient Care

  • Patients with known supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) who are presenting with recurrence and receiving effective therapy usually do not require admission. New patients are frequently admitted for a period of observation and to provide teaching and reassurance to the parent or child.
  • Often, certain antiarrhythmic medications are initiated in the hospital while the patient is monitored for adverse effects (eg, proarrhythmia).
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Transfer

Ideally, as with most tachycardias in children, transfer should take place after successful conversion has been achieved.

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Prognosis

The diagnosis of AVNRT is associated with random unpredictable occurrences that pose a nuisance and interfere with quality of life more than they are life-threatening.

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Patient Education

  • Patients beyond infancy usually are informed that their condition, despite the severity of symptoms, is not significantly life threatening. Vagal maneuvers are taught, and the options of intermittent treatment (eg, vagal maneuvers, ED visits), long-term drug therapy, and atrioventricular (AV) node modification with radiofrequency or cryocatheter energy are discussed.
  • For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Heart Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Supraventricular Tachycardia.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Glenn T Wetzel, MD, PhD  Professor of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee College of Medicine; Director, Pediatric Arrhythmia Service, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center

Glenn T Wetzel, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Heart Association, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ryan Jones, MD  Fellow, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis

Ryan Jones, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Cardiology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Charles I Berul, MD  Professor of Pediatrics and Integrative Systems Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Cardiology, Children's National Medical Center

Charles I Berul, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, Heart Rhythm Society, Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Johnson & Johnson Consulting fee Consulting

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Hugh D Allen, MD  Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology and Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University College of Medicine

Hugh D Allen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Pediatric Society, American Society of Echocardiography, Society for Pediatric Research, Society of Pediatric Echocardiography, and Western Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Gilbert Z Herzberg, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, New York Medical College; Consulting Staff, Department of Pediatrics, Sound Shore Medical Center

Gilbert Z Herzberg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Stuart Berger, MD  Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Medical College of Wisconsin; Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical Director of Pediatric Heart Transplant Program, Medical Director of The Heart Center, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin

Stuart Berger, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American Heart Association, and Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors Robert Hamilton, MD, and Rejane Dillenburg, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

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The patient's heart rate is approximately 146 beats per minute 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.
 
 
 
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