Word parts
What it means
A rapid heart rhythm that begins in the atria or the AV nodeay-VEE nohdAtrioventricular node: a small group of cells between the upper and lower chambers of the heart that passes on the heartbeat signal.atri/o atriumventricul/o ventricle-ar relating toFull entry , usually from an extra electrical pathway that lets the signal loop around. It often starts and stops suddenly. The client may feel a racing heart, dizziness, shortness of breath or chest discomfort. Because the heart beats so fast, it has little time to fill, so blood pressure can drop.
For the nurse
Check whether the client is stable (blood pressure, mental status, chest pain). Treatment steps may include vagal maneuvers such as bearing down, then adenosine given by very rapid IV push followed at once by a saline flush; warn the client it may cause a brief feeling of doom or a pause on the monitor. An unstable client needs synchronized cardioversion.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | SVT |
|---|---|
| Spanish | taquicardia supraventricular |
| Also written | SVT |
Related terms
tachycardia
A heart rate faster than normal; in an adult, more than 100 beats per minute.
palpitation
The feeling of your own heartbeat as pounding, racing, fluttering or skipping.
calcium channel blocker
A drug that slows the movement of calcium into heart and blood vessel muscle cells, relaxing the vessels.
AV node
Atrioventricular node: a small group of cells between the upper and lower chambers of the heart that passes on the heartbeat signal.
sinus rhythm
A heart rhythm that starts in the sinoatrial node, the heart's natural pacemaker.