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Full text
Three-part question
In (adult patients with supraventricular tachycardia) does (putting them in trendelenburg position) help (in cardioverting to sinus rhythm)?
Clinical scenario
A 48-year-old male presents to the ED with a history of 45min of palpitations. He is otherwise well and his only medical history is of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). His ECG confirms SVT on this occasion. You are going to attempt the Valsalva manoeuvre and wonder whether the patient should stay sitting or whether the trendelenburg position would be better.
Search strategy
Database: Ovid MEDLINE(R) (1946to week 2 November 2016)
[exp Tachycardia, Supraventricular OR tachyarrhythmia.mp. OR svt.mp. OR . OR tachyarrhythmia$.mp. OR exp Tachycardia OR narrow complex tachycardia.mp. OR supraventricular arrhythmia.mp.] AND [exp Head-Down Tilt OR exp Supine Position OR modified valsalva.mp. OR trendelenburg.mp. OR trendelenburg tilt.mp.]
Search outcome
Fifty-four search results. Three were relevant and of high enough quality to include (see table 2).
Table 2 Relevant papers
Author, year, country of publication | Patient group | Study type (level of evidence) | Outcomes | Key results | Study... |