VAGAL MANEUVER

Course overview

VAGAL MANEUVERS ARE TECHNIQUES USED TO INCREASE VAGAL PARASYMPATHETIC TONE IN AN ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT VARIOUS ARRHYTHMIAS. THEY ARE OFTEN UTILIZED FIRST IN AN EFFORT TO ABORT EPISODES OF STABLE SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA (SVT) OR DIFFERENTIATE SVT FROM VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIAS (VT). COMMON VAGAL MANEUVERS INCLUDE CAROTID SINUS MASSAGE (CSM), VALSALVA MANEUVER (VM), AND DIVING REFLEX. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, AND TECHNIQUES FOR ADMINISTERING VAGAL MANEUVERS.