A Case of Recurrent Palpitations in an Elderly Woman with Breast Cancer: Management of Recalcitrant Svt in the Emergency Department

Abstract

Supraventricular tachycardia encompasses a group of cardiac rhythm disturbances characterised by a rapid heart rate, which arise from impulses originating above the bundle of His. This condition affects patients across all age groups and is a common occurrence in the emergency setting. We present the case of a 69-year-old woman with a history of breast carcinoma, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, who presented to the emergency department with recurrent palpitations which were confirmed on electrocardiogram to be the result of supraventricular tachycardia. The management of recalcitrant supraventricular tachycardia in the emergency setting, including techniques described in recent literature, as well as special considerations for the elderly and oncological patients in the acute setting will be discussed.