Which statement best identifies supraventricular tachycardia?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement best identifies supraventricular tachycardia?

Supraventricular tachycardia is a rapid rhythm that starts above the ventricles. The hallmark on the ECG is a regular rhythm with a fast rate and narrow QRS complexes, because the ventricles are activated through the normal His-Purkinje system. Typically this rate sits around 150–250 beats per minute. So, describing a narrow complex tachycardia with a regular rhythm at 150–250 bpm fits exactly what SVT looks like. By contrast, an irregularly irregular rhythm points to atrial fibrillation, a slow rate with visible P waves isn’t tachycardia, and a wide complex tachycardia suggests a ventricular origin or an SVT with aberrancy rather than classic SVT.

Supraventricular tachycardia is a rapid rhythm that starts above the ventricles. The hallmark on the ECG is a regular rhythm with a fast rate and narrow QRS complexes, because the ventricles are activated through the normal His-Purkinje system. Typically this rate sits around 150–250 beats per minute. So, describing a narrow complex tachycardia with a regular rhythm at 150–250 bpm fits exactly what SVT looks like. By contrast, an irregularly irregular rhythm points to atrial fibrillation, a slow rate with visible P waves isn’t tachycardia, and a wide complex tachycardia suggests a ventricular origin or an SVT with aberrancy rather than classic SVT.

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