Managing Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmia in Pregnant Patients Within the Emergency Department

Overview

Journal Front Cardiovasc Med

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2024 Dec 25

PMID 39720210

Authors

Di Pan

Zhongqing Chen

Haibo Chen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy increases the risk of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) due to physiological changes. This study reviews the management of SVT in pregnant patients in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 15 pregnant patients with SVT treated at Shenzhen Second People's Hospital ED from 2015 to 2023. Treatments included vagal nerve stimulation, pharmacotherapy, esophageal pacing, cardioversion, and radiofrequency ablation.

Results: The average patient age was 30.3 years. All presented with palpitations, and none had hemodynamic instability. Treatment success varied: 3 patients reverted spontaneously, 5 responded to vagal stimulation, and 4 to esophageal pacing. One required verapamil, and another responded to labetalol after failing vagal and pacing treatments.

Conclusion: When managing SVT during pregnancy, it is important to consider the patient's stability, the stage of pregnancy, and the safety of medications. For unstable patients, electrical cardioversion is the preferred option; for stable patients, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) or other alternative treatments, such as adenosine, should be considered.

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