SVT stands for what cardiovascular condition?

• A. Supraventricular tachycardia
• B. Sinus tachycardia
• C. Ventricular tachycardia
• D. Atrial fibrillation

Answer: (A)

SVT stands for supraventricular tachycardia, a fast heart rhythm that originates above the ventricles—typically from the atrioventricular node or atrial tissue. The key idea is that the problem lies in the upper parts of the conduction system, not the ventricles, so the rhythm is usually very rapid and regular with narrow QRS complexes. This contrasts with sinus tachycardia, which is just a physiologic speeding up of the heart driven by the sinus node in response to stress, fever, or exercise and still follows the normal P–QRS–T pattern. Ventricular tachycardia comes from the ventricles themselves and often presents with wide QRS complexes and can be more dangerous. Atrial fibrillation involves rapid, chaotic atrial activity with an irregularly irregular ventricular response and no discrete P waves. Therefore, the term SVT correctly refers to a fast rhythm arising above the ventricles.