Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia

May be seen in ICU pts and is indistinguishable from paroxysmal SVT

Digitalis toxicity, acute lyte or acid-base imbalance

Incidence of 2% in the periop period (excluding AF)

No racial prevalence and all age groups

May be seen with mitral valve prolapse, especially in females

Rapid heart rate impairs LV filling and may adversely affect LV function in pts with LV failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and aortic or mitral stenosis.

Cerebrovascular disease.

Syncope ∼15% on initiation or abrupt termination of rapid SVT.

Syncope may also indicate AF and rapid conduction over an accessory pathway.

Hypotension in pts with systolic or diastolic dysfunction.

Chest pain in pts with CAD.

ST-T segment changes common with rapid rates and reduced coronary filling even with normal coronaries.

VF in WPW pts who develop AF.

Digoxin level, lyte, and acid-base status.