Which characteristic is typically observed on the EKG of a patient with SVT?

The correct response highlights that a patient experiencing supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) typically presents with a regular rhythm and narrow QRS complexes on the electrocardiogram (EKG). In SVT, the heart rate is usually elevated, exceeding 100 beats per minute, and often the rhythm appears consistent and regular.

The presence of narrow QRS complexes indicates that the electrical impulse is originating above the ventricles, primarily from the atria or the atrioventricular node. In the case of SVT, this conduction pathway allows the impulse to travel down through the His-Purkinje system effectively, leading to the characteristic narrow QRS pattern.

Understanding this finding is crucial for differentiating SVT from other tachyarrhythmias that may have wider QRS complexes, which can indicate a different etiology such as ventricular tachycardia or bundle branch block.

Other characteristics, such as irregular rhythms or consistently present P waves, are more reflective of other arrhythmias. Elevation of the ST segment is associated with ischemic changes and does not typically relate to the EKG findings seen in SVT. Thus, recognizing the typical EKG features of SVT, including the regular rhythm and narrow Q