What is the treatment for Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)?

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Last updated: April 10, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Guidelines

The initial treatment for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) should be vagal maneuvers, including Valsalva and carotid sinus massage, as they are recommended for acute treatment in patients with orthodromic AVRT 1.

Key Recommendations for SVT Treatment

  • Vagal maneuvers are the first-line intervention to terminate SVT, with a success rate of 27.7% when switching from one technique to the other 1.
  • Adenosine is beneficial for acute treatment in patients with orthodromic AVRT, with a success rate of 90% to 95% 1.
  • Synchronized cardioversion should be performed for acute treatment in hemodynamically unstable patients with AVRT if vagal maneuvers or adenosine are ineffective or not feasible 1.
  • For ongoing management, oral beta blockers, diltiazem, or verapamil are useful in patients with symptomatic SVT who do not have ventricular pre-excitation during sinus rhythm 2.

Ongoing Management Options

  • EP study with the option of ablation is useful for the diagnosis and potential treatment of SVT, providing a potential for definitive cure without the need for chronic pharmacological therapy 2.
  • Patients with SVT should be educated on how to perform vagal maneuvers for ongoing management of SVT, which can help avoid prolonged tachycardia episodes and reduce the need for medical attention 2.
  • Flecainide or propafenone may be considered for ongoing management in patients without structural heart disease or ischemic heart disease who have symptomatic SVT and are not candidates for, or prefer not to undergo, catheter ablation 2.

From the Research

STV Treatment Overview

  • STV treatment typically refers to the use of antiviral drugs to combat viral infections.
  • Antiviral drugs can be categorized into different functional groups, including protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors 3.
  • The mechanism of action of antiviral drugs involves targeting the virus itself or host cell factors, and can include inhibition of virus attachment, entry, and replication 4.

Available Antiviral Drugs

  • There are several antiviral drugs available for the treatment of various viral infections, including herpesviruses, influenza, and HIV 3.
  • Some examples of antiviral drugs include acyclovir, tenofovir, and valganciclovir, which are used to treat herpesviruses and other viral infections 4.
  • Remdesivir is an example of an antiviral drug that has been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 5, 6.

Treatment of COVID-19

  • There is currently no specific treatment for COVID-19, but several antiviral drugs are being investigated for their potential use in treating the disease 6, 7.
  • Some antiviral drugs, such as lopinavir and remdesivir, have shown promise in clinical trials, but more research is needed to determine their efficacy 6, 7.
  • Combination therapy, which involves the use of multiple antiviral drugs in combination with other treatments, may also be effective in treating COVID-19 7.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.