Inhaled Short-Acting Beta Agonist Treatment-Associated Supraventricular Tachycardia in Children: Still a Matter of Concern in Pediatric Emergency Departments?

Inhaled selective short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA), such as salbutamol, are the rescue treatment of choice for the relief of symptoms of acute asthma exacerbations: one of the leading causes of pediatric emergency department admission and hospitalization. Cardiovascular events, including supraventricular arrhythmias, are the most frequent side effects reported with inhaled SABA in children with asthma and are the main reason for a continuing debate about their safety, despite their widespread use. Although supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common potentially serious dysrhythmia in children, the incidence and risk factor of SVT after SABA administration is currently unknown. We here reported three cases and conducted a review of the literature in an attempt to gain insight into this issue.