title: Successful electrical cardioversion of supraventricular tachycardia in a pregnant patient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnancy can precipitate cardiac arrhythmias not previously present in seemingly well individuals. Atrial and ventricular premature beats are frequently present during pregnancy and are usually benign. Supraventricular tachycardia and malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias occur less frequently. Maternal and fetal arrhythmias occurring during pregnancy may jeopardize the life of the mother and the fetus.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 32-year-old pregnant women at 26 weeks gestation presented to the emergency department with palpitation. She had mild chest discomfort after a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) episode but did not have syncope. After monitoring and access of an IV line, vagal manoeuvres were applied but the rhythm was resistant. Then she was treated with 5 mg metoprolol IV, but the SVT persisted. Then after IV infusion of adenosine triphosphate 6 to 12 mg, the rhythm was resistant. Synchronized cardioversion with 100 joules was performed. Patients' rhythm was normalized to a sinus rhythm. She was discharged from hospital without any adverse effects following 24-hour monitoring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All pregnant patients with SVT require careful maternal and fetal monitoring during treatment, and close collaboration between the managing obstetrician and the cardiologist is essential.
authors.affiliation: Numune Research and Training Hospital, Department of Emergency, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fevzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.forename: Inan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Beydilli
authors.forename: Cemil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kavalcı
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
keywords: clectrical cardioversion; pregnancy; supraventricular tachycardia