Vagal Maneuvers in Treating Acute Supraventricular Tachycardia with Narrow QRS

Abstract

Abstract Treatment of supraventricular tachycardia with narrow QRS complexes (SVT) includes different therapeutic strategies such as: cardioversion, drug therapy or vagal maneuvers, depending on the patient’s condition, especially if they are hemodynamically stable or unstable. Vagal maneuvers are used to treat SVT during the acute presentation, if the patient is stable. They are recommended by the 2019 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for management of SVT with narrow QRS complexes. These include the Valsalva maneuver (enhanced or not) and carotid sinus massage. They have multiple advantages: they do not require medical equipment, can be performed anywhere (at the bedside or in an outpatient setting), have minimal risk and high effectiveness (19-54 % rate of success).