Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a type of cardiac arrhythmia that is more common in women and can cause significant symptoms and impairment of quality of life. During an episode, the heart can beat rapidly, sometimes as fast as 200 beats per minute, and the arrhythmia can result in sustained palpitations, lightheadedness and fainting.

Electrophysiologists can often cure SVT with catheter ablation. Using advanced imaging to guide the catheters to the arrhythmia source, physicians deliver radiofrequency electrical energy selectively to eliminate the heart cells causing the rhythm disturbance.