SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA-INDUCED CARDIOGENIC SHOCK IN A NEONATE: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Shock is defined as the failure to deliver adequate oxygenated blood to tissues, resulting in a mismatch between oxygen supply and demand. Oxygen delivery is primarily determined by arterial oxygen content (dependent on hemoglobin con-centration and oxygen
saturation) and cardiac output, which is the product of stroke volume and heart rate (Marcdante et Kliegman, 2019). Shock can be broadly classified into three progressive phases: compensated, uncompensated, and irreversible. In the compensated phase, cardiac output is maintained via sympathetic activation, increasing heart rate and systemic vascular resistance (Mardešić et al., 2016). Based on the underlying pathogenesis, shock can be classified: hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive (septic) and obstructive shock. Cardiogenic shock is pathophysiologically characterized by impaired systolic function and reduced cardiac output, typically resulting
from congenital heart defects, cardiomyopathies, or arrhythmias (Brissaud et al., 2016).
We report the case of a neonate admitted to our clinic in a state of cardiogenic shock caused by supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). On admission, the infant presented in sinus rhythm, which initially masked the underlying arrhythmia and complicated the diagnostic process. The diagnosis of SVT was confirmed only after haemodynamic stabilization, emphasizing the diagnostic challenges associated with undifferentiated shock in neonates.