PMID: 28509894May 17, 2017Paper

Swallowing-induced Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmia

Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine
Umair KhalidAziz Shaibani

Abstract

Swallowing-induced supraventricular tachyarrhythmia is an extremely rare entity with unclear pathophysiology. A 55-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of worsening presyncopal symptoms triggered only by drinking liquids of any temperature. Results of a physical examination were unremarkable except for reproducible atrial tachycardias to 180 to 210 beats/minute documented on rhythm strips when the patient was given water to drink. He underwent radiofrequency ablation with complete resolution of symptoms. We reviewed all 43 published cases of swallowing-induced supraventricular tachyarrhythmia in the English-language medical literature. We found only one other reported case induced only by drinking liquids. Radiofrequency ablation appears to be the treatment of choice.

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