Termination of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with a nasogastric tube--a case report.

The case is described of a 29-year-old man with a history of recurrent attacks of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. The patient presented to the emergency ward with complaints of palpitations which had not been relieved by vagal stimulation maneuvers and propranolol. When intravenous metoprolol failed to convert the rhythm, a nasogastric tube was passed which immediately converted the tachycardia to normal sinus rhythm. The literature is reviewed and problems and complications of various techniques are discussed.