The use of vagal manoeuvres in narrow complex tachyarrhythmias in primary care

Supraventricular tachydysrhythmias (SVTs) are a common presenting complaint, with a national prevalence of 3/1000 persons. While most commonly stable, prolonged paroxysms can deteriorate into haemodynamically unstable subtypes or ventricular dysrhythmias. Early recognition with appropriate management is critical to reducing the morbidity associated with this condition. The American Heart Association holds that vagal manoeuvres are a first-line therapy in the management algorithm of stable SVTs. However, they state that no clear recommendations can be made around which manoeuvre to use, highlighting that future research should examine the efficacy and safety profiles of the various manoeuvres. In the South African primary care setting, clinicians must be at the forefront of pragmatic management strategies in the face of resource limitations, such as the unavailability of adenosine – a second-line therapy when vagal manoeuvres fail. In this article, we begin with a case study and review the literature around vagal manoeuvres.