Health Library

What Is Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)?

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a type of arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) in which the heart beats very quickly.

The abnormal heart rhythm starts in the atria, which are the top chambers of the heart. Supraventricular tachycardia (soo-pruh-ven-TRIK-yuh-ler tak-ih-KAR-dee-uh) often happens suddenly and can last for a few minutes or many hours.

What Happens in Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)?

An area in the atria called the sinus node sends electrical signals that tell the heart to beat at a normal rate. They also tell the heart to speed up during exercise or times of stress, and to slow down during sleep.

Normally, the electrical signals follow set paths from the heart’s top chambers down to its bottom chambers (the ventricles). In people with SVT, the signals can sometimes "short circuit" and make the heart beat faster.

SVT causes the heart to work harder to do its job, especially if it goes on for a long time. Longer episodes can make the heart tired and not able to pump normally.

How long episodes last and how often they happen is different for each person with SVT.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)?

Some kids with SVT have no symptoms at all. When they do, palpitations (a feeling of a fast heartbeat or pounding in the chest) are the most common.

Other symptoms might include:

• dizziness
• tiredness
• weakness
• being short of breath
• chest pain
• fainting

What Causes Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)?

SVT can be congenital, which means a child is born with it. Or it can develop later in life. Sometimes it happens because of other heart conditions.

Supraventricular tachycardia usually affects infants, young kids, and teens.

How Is Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) Diagnosed?

Doctors use several tools to diagnose SVT. It’s very important for parents to know their child’s

medical history
 and give this information to the doctor.

The doctor will do an exam and order an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) to measure the heart’s electrical activity. These types of EKGs might be done:

• resting EKG, which measures the heart rate and rhythm, and takes less than a minute
• exercise EKG (also called a stress test), which measures heart rate and rhythm during exercise, like riding a stationary bicycle or walking on a treadmill
• home monitor, which is an EKG done over a longer period. It monitors the heart’s rhythm during normal daily activities. Continuous recording (usually 24 hours with a "Holter" monitor) means the EKG is on for the entire monitoring period; event monitoring (usually done for 30–60 days) means data is recorded only when a child feels symptoms and presses a button, or when the monitor detects certain conditions.

How Is Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) Treated?

Many arrhythmias like SVT may not need treatment.

Treatment might be done when SVT causes symptoms, lasts a long time, or happens often. Options include:

Medicine. Doctors may use medicines (such as beta blockers) that slow the heart rate. This lowers the chances of having frequent or long episodes of SVT. Sometimes, these cause side effects, so a child will see the doctor regularly.

Catheter

ablation
. With the child asleep and comfortable, doctors guide a

catheter
(a thin, flexible plastic wire) through a vein or artery in the leg to the heart. When the problem area of the heart is pinpointed, the catheter tip can use hot energy (called radiofrequency ablation) or cold energy (called cryoablation) to burn or freeze the tissues causing the arrhythmia.

What Else Should I Know?

Most children with SVT lead a normal life. It’s important to follow up with the cardiologist as often as needed.