1. What is supraventricular tachycardia?<br>
2. Are there different types of supraventricular tachycardia?
<br>

3. What causes supraventricular tachycardia?
<br>
4. What are treatment options for this heart rhythm irregularity?<br>

5. What is the success rate of the cardiac catheter ablation procedure when used for supraventricular tachycardias?<br><br>


1. What is supraventricular tachycardia?<br><br>

SVT is an arrhythmia that starts in the upper chambers or atria of the heart.  The heart rate is more than 100 beats per minute.  People who have this type of arrhythmia often say that they can "feel their heart racing."    <br><br>

2. Are there different types of supraventricular tachycardia?
<br><br>
Yes, there are different types of SVT.  Sometimes there is a single spot in either the right or left atrium (heart's upper chambers) that can independently start this fast heart rhythm.  This is referred to as "atrial tachycardia" (AT).<br><br> 

In other cases, the fast heart rhythm is caused by an electrical short circuit within the heart's normal conduction system.  This type of SVT can be referred to as "AV node reentry tachycardia" (AVNRT). <br><br>

Finally, there is sometimes an extra electrical connection between the atria and ventricles (heart's upper and lower chambers) that allows this fast heart rhythm to occur.  This is referred to as "atrioventricular reentry tachycardia" (AVRT). <br><br>

3. What causes supraventricular tachycardia?
<br><br>
People are often born with the extra independent areas, electrical circuits or pathways that start this fast heart rhythm.  In some patients who have had heart surgery, scars that form with normal healing sometimes are associated with development of electrical circuits that can cause SVTs. 
<br><br>
4. What are treatment options for this heart rhythm irregularity?<br><br>

Medications are often given as the first treatment for this type of arrhythmia.  However, if the medications are not effective, cause side effects, or the patient does not want to take them long-term, catheter ablation is another treatment option for SVT.    <br><br>

5. What is the success rate of the cardiac catheter ablation procedure when used for supraventricular tachycardias?<br><br>

The success rate of the catheter ablation procedure when used for SVTs is approximately 90-95%.  This success rate may be lower if the SVT pathway is in a difficult to reach area or near part of the normal electrical conduction system.
<br><br>