Learn how Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia Arrhythmia is treated and what prescription (drugs and medications) would doctors recommend in South Africa. You will also learn what are the main causes of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia Arrhythmia, symptoms, and how to prevent it.
Understanding what Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia Arrhythmia is
Vagal manoeuvres: valsalva or carotid sinus massage. The patient should be supine and as relaxed as possible, to avoid competing sympathetic reflexes.
Watch Video: AVRNT (atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia) – causes, pathophysiology, treatment
Characteristics:
- Usually paroxysmal.
- Often young patients with normal hearts.
- AV nodal re-entry or WPW syndrome.
- P waves are usually not visible (hidden by QRS complexes).
Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia Arrhythmia Treatment: Drugs and Medication Prescription Guide
This is a medication and drugs guide on treating Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia Arrhythmia patients, as per the Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicine List for South Africa.
MEDICINE TREATMENT
Initial therapy
If vagal manoeuvres fail:
• Adenosine, rapid IV bolus, 6 mg.
- Follow by a bolus of 10 mL sodium chloride 0.9% to ensure that it reaches the heart before it is broken down.
- Half life: ± 10 seconds.
- Run the ECG for 1 minute after the injection. o If 6 mg fails, repeat with 12 mg.
- If this fails, repeat with another 12 mg.
If the drug reaches the central circulation before it is broken down the patient will experience flushing, sometimes chest pain, wheezing and anxiety.
If the tachycardia fails to terminate without the patient experiencing those symptoms, the drug did not reach the heart.
If none of the above is effective, or if the patient is hypotensive, consider DC shock.
Long term therapy
Teach the patient to perform vagal manoeuvres. Valsalva is the most effective.
For infrequent, non-incapacitating symptoms: ß–blocker,e.g.:
• Atenolol, oral, 50–100 mg daily.
If asthmatic, but normal heart:
• Verapamil, oral, 80–120 mg 8 hourly.
Verapamil and digoxin are contraindicated in WPW syndrome.