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Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Effectiveness of the Valsalva Manoeuvre for reversion of supraventricular tachycardia

Overview of attention for article published in Cochrane database of systematic reviews, February 2015
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Title
Effectiveness of the Valsalva Manoeuvre for reversion of supraventricular tachycardia
Published in
Cochrane database of systematic reviews, February 2015
DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD009502.pub3
Pubmed ID
Authors

Gavin D Smith, Meagan M Fry, David Taylor, Amee Morgans, Kate Cantwell

Abstract

People with the cardiac arrhythmia supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) frequently present to clinicians in the prehospital and emergency medicine settings. Restoring sinus rhythm by terminating the SVT involves increasing the refractoriness of atrioventricular nodal tissue within the myocardium by means of vagal manoeuvres, pharmacological agents, or electrical cardioversion. A commonly used first-line technique to restore the normal sinus rhythm (reversion) is the Valsalva Manoeuvre (VM). This is a non-invasive means of increasing myocardial refractoriness by increasing intrathoracic pressure for a brief period, thus stimulating baroreceptor activity in the aortic arch and carotid bodies, resulting in increased parasympathetic (vagus nerve) tone. To assess the evidence of effectiveness of the VM in terminating SVT. We updated the electronic searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2014, Issue 7); MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to August week 3, 2014); EMBASE Classic and EMBASE Ovid (1947 to 27 August 2014); Web of Science (1970 to 27 August 2014); and BIOSIS Previews (1969 to 22 August 2014). We also checked trials registries, the Index to Theses, and the bibliographies of all relevant publications identified by these strategies. We included all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effectiveness of VM in terminating SVT. Two review authors independently extracted the data using a standardised form. We assessed each trial for internal validity, resolving any differences by discussion. We then extracted and entered data into Review Manager 5. In this update, we did not identify any new RCT studies for inclusion. We identified two RCT studies as ongoing that we are likely to include in future updates. Accordingly, our results are unchanged and include three RCTs with a total of 316 participants. All three studies compared the effectiveness of VM in reverting SVT with that of other vagal manoeuvres in a cross-over design. Two studies induced SVT within a controlled laboratory environment. Participants had ceased all medications prior to engaging in these studies. The third study reported on people presenting to a hospital emergency department with an episode of SVT. These participants were not controlled for medications or other factors prior to intervention.The two laboratory studies demonstrated reversion rates of 45.9% and 54.3%, whilst the clinical study demonstrated reversion success of 19.4%. This discrepancy may be due to methodological differences between studies, the effect of induced SVT versus spontaneous episodic SVT, and participant factors such as medications and comorbidities. We were unable to assess any of these factors, or adverse effects, further, since they were either not described in enough detail or not reported at all.Statistical pooling was not possible due to heterogeneity between the included studies. We did not find sufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of VM for termination of SVT. Further research is needed, and this research should include a standardised approach to performance technique and methodology.

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Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 252 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
United States 1 <1%
Unknown 251 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Bachelor 46 18%
Student > Master 40 16%
Researcher 19 8%
Other 16 6%
Student > Postgraduate 14 6%
Other 40 16%
Unknown 77 31%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 96 38%
Nursing and Health Professions 37 15%
Psychology 6 2%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 4 2%
Social Sciences 4 2%
Other 22 9%
Unknown 83 33%