Overdrive atrial pacing was employed in twelve patients with suspected supraventricular tachycardia resistant to drug therapy. Eleven of these patients reverted to sinus rhythm with pacing either immediately or after a short episode of atrial fibrillation. In one patient, recordings from the atrial electrode indicated that a broad complex tachycardia was of ventricular rather than supraventricular origin. No complications were encountered and the procedure was well tolerated in all. Overdrive pacing is suggested as a safe alternative to DC cardioversion in drug-resistant supraventricular tachycardia, particularly in the presence of digitalis, in the elderly and in patients with chronic lung disease.
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