When tachycardia is caused by block at the AV node, what is the goal of treatment?

When tachycardia is caused by block at the AV node, what is the goal of treatment?

• A. Increase conduction through the AV junction
• B. Decrease conduction through the AV node
• C. Slow the heart rate
• D. Increase heart rate by pacing

Answer: (A)

When AV nodal block is the reason for the tachycardia, the ventricles aren’t being adequately activated by atrial impulses. The primary aim is to restore the connection between atria and ventricles by increasing conduction through the AV junction. This reestablishes paced, coordinated ventricular activation in response to the atrial rate, improving hemodynamics and reducing the dissociation that can occur with AV nodal block. Decreasing AV conduction or simply slowing the heart rate would worsen the problem, and pacing to raise the rate doesn’t fix the underlying conduction block.

When AV nodal block is the reason for the tachycardia, the ventricles aren’t being adequately activated by atrial impulses. The primary aim is to restore the connection between atria and ventricles by increasing conduction through the AV junction. This reestablishes paced, coordinated ventricular activation in response to the atrial rate, improving hemodynamics and reducing the dissociation that can occur with AV nodal block. Decreasing AV conduction or simply slowing the heart rate would worsen the problem, and pacing to raise the rate doesn’t fix the underlying conduction block.