immerse face in ice water?

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 8, 2007

Yes, an effective maneuver.

Cosper123 · Sep 8, 2007

In the textbook on Child Health,
in the section on Cardiovascular Alteration,
about Supraventricular Tachycardia, there is explanation
that children who are asymptomatic andhemodynamically stable
can be treated conservatively. Vagal maneuvers may be used to terminate an episode of SVT by eliciting the diving reflex. Immersing
the older child's face in ice water stimulates a vagal response that may stop the tachycardia; bbriefly placing an ice bag or bag of frozen vegetables over the infant's face accomplishes the same results.
Is these really done and effective?

Yep

Massaging the carotids can have a similar effect as well. Just not both at once as you can cut off blood flow to the brain

allthingsbright · Sep 8, 2007

saw it done in my peds rotation-it worked. amazing!

crb613, BSN, RN · Sep 8, 2007

My son had supraventricular tachycardia. When the vagal maneuvers didn't work.....He would drink a glass of ice water as fast as he could. This usually worked. He would also gag himself... worked sometime & ice bag to the back of his neck worked w/the other methods. His doctors suggested ablation which has worked great!

loricatus · Sep 8, 2007

Didn't know it was used on children; but, we had recently used it effectively on an adult when carotid massage didn't work. Amazingly simple and no need to push meds (couldn't get a line in this person at the time). It never ceases to amaze me what the human body is capable of...

vamedic4, EMT-P · Sep 13, 2007

In the textbook on Child Health,
in the section on Cardiovascular Alteration,
about Supraventricular Tachycardia, there is explanation
that children who are asymptomatic andhemodynamically stable
can be treated conservatively. Vagal maneuvers may be used to terminate an episode of SVT by eliciting the diving reflex. Immersing
the older child's face in ice water stimulates a vagal response that may stop the tachycardia; bbriefly placing an ice bag or bag of frozen vegetables over the infant's face accomplishes the same results.
Is these really done and effective?[/quote
Yes, but you can also terminate SVT by having an older child blow against an occluded straw, its not near so messy. Breath holding is also something that works with the older child. With babies and infants we use a lab bag half full of ice, half water. We place the bag over the eyes and across the bridge of the nose with mild pressure...wetting the OUTSIDE of the bag also helps to elicit the diving reflex.
vamedic4

prmenrs, RN · Sep 13, 2007

It works for infants--you literally dunk the baby's face in a basin w/cold water! Obviously, you can't ask them to do any of the "vagal" things, but they will do an involuntary breath-hold if you dunk 'em. It doesn't work as well to just put a cold, wet washcloth on their face.

Looks and feels very bizarre to do, but.... I've done it. If it doesn't work, you're looking @ adenosine and/or overriding w/a pacemaker.

Premies will very rarely get into this rhythm--they'll get up to 300! Every hummingbird in town is in a jealous snit.