Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Termination of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with phenylephrine.

A patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, susceptible to tachydysrhythmias , presented for eye surgery under general anaesthesia. He developed a supraventricular tachycardia refractory to a variety of treatments. Phenylephrine consistently abolished the dysrhythmia, probably by acting directly to stimulate the arterial baroreceptors and hence vagal output. Vasopressor therapy should be considered in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome tachyarrhythmias, when circumstances permit.