Nonpharmacological treatment of supraventricular tachycardia.

Although pharmacological treatment is often effective in preventing or controlling attacks of tachycardia it is palliative rather than a cure. Some Arrhythmias are refractory to drug therapy and long-term antiarrhythmic agents are associated with side-effects, life-threatening toxicity, poor patient compliance and considerable cost. On the other hand, enhanced knowledge of electrophysiological mechanisms and advanced technology have resulted in the more and more widespread use of several nonpharmacological methods of treating arrhythmias. It is the purpose of this review to discuss the present status of nonpharmacological therapy of supraventricular tachycardia and comment upon its current role in the management of patients presenting with these arrhythmias.