Treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia using instrument-assisted manipulation of the fourth rib: a 6-year case study.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this case report was to describe the observation of the manipulation of the fourth rib followed by the reproducible, rapid return of heart rate to normal in a patient with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

CLINICAL FEATURES: A male patient had paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. He was evaluated using standard methods of palpation. He was followed over a 6-year period.

INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patient was treated during episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with instrument-assisted manipulation of the fourth rib without treatment of any other segments. Tachycardia was eliminated after rib manipulation within less than 2 minutes. Over a 6-year period, effective control of episodes of SVT was consistently achieved associated with manipulation of the fourth rib.

CONCLUSIONS

This case study is suggestive of a relationship between SVT and misalignment of the fourth rib. Controlled studies are necessary to validate this observation.