Baseline characteristics of the cohort and the management of the SVT
| Baseline characteristic | PARA group (n=44) | ED group (n=42) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 48±16 | 53±18 | 0.16 |
| Male | 14 (32) | 22 (52) | 0.08 |
| Previous history of symptoms | 34 (77) | 36 (86) | 0.41 |
| Previously sought medical advice | 33 (75) | 33 (79) | 0.80 |
| General practitioner | 23 (52) | 14 (33) | 0.09 |
| Accident and emergency | 23 (52) | 23 (55) | 0.83 |
| Cardiologist | 22 (50) | 23 (55) | 0.67 |
| Paramedic | 21 (48) | 22 (52) | 0.86 |
| More than once | 10 (23) | 11 (26) | 0.80 |
| Previous catheter ablation | 3 (7) | 1 (2) | 0.62 |
| Awaiting or offered catheter ablation | 5 (11) | 5 (12) | 1.00 |
| On antiarrhythmic drugs | 6 14) | 5 (12) | 1.00 |
| On rate-controlling drugs | 11 (25) | 10 (24) | 1.00 |
| Bisoprolol | 6 (55) | 5 (50) | 1.00 |
| Atenolol | 1 (9) | 3 (30) | 0.31 |
| Verapamil | 4 (36) | 2 (20) | 0.64 |
| Hypertension | 2 (5) | 5 (12) | 0.26 |
| Type 2 diabetes mellitus | 3 (7) | 4 (10) | 0.71 |
| Thyroid dysfunction | 1 (2) | 0 | 1.00 |
| Vagal manoeuvres performed | 28 (64) | 27 (64) | 1.00 |
| Successful | 1 (4) | 2 (7) | 0.61 |
| Adenosine administered | 37 (84) | 25 (60) | 0.02* |
| Adenosine not administered | 7 (16) | 17 (40) | 0.02* |
| No intravenous access available | 1 (14) | 0 | 0.35 |
| Adenosine not available | 1 (14) | 0 | 0.35 |
| Vagal manoeuvres successfully terminated tachycardia | 1 (14) | 2 (15) | 1.00 |
| Vagal manoeuvres demonstrated underlying atrial flutter | 1 (14) | 0 | 0.35 |
| Tachycardia spontaneously terminated before treatment | 3 (43) | 12 (71) | 0.01* |
| Given antiarrhythmic drugs | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
| Given rate-controlling drug | 0 | 2 (15) | 1.00 |
| Unclear | 0 | 1 (3) | 1.00 |
| Adenosine 6 mg successful | 26 (70) | 20 (80) | 0.56 |
| Adenosine 6 mg successful but tachycardia re-initiated | 2 (8) | 1 (4) | 1.00 |
| Patient transferred to ED | 1 (50) | N/A | N/A |
| Adenosine 12 mg given (protocol violation) | 1 (50) | N/A | N/A |
| Adenosine 12 mg successful | 3 (8) | 3 (12) | 1.00 |
| Adenosine 12 mg successful but tachycardia re-initiated | 3 (8) | 0 | 0.27 |
| Dose given not available | 0 | 2 (8) | 0.16 |
Values are n (%) or mean±SD.
ED, emergency department; PARA, treated by paramedic; SVT, supraventricular tachycardia.