literature search for definitions of syncope and related disorders. Clin Autonom Res 2005;15:35–9. 3. Soteriades ES, Evans JC, Larson MG, et al. Incidence and prognosis of syncope. N Engl J Med 2002;347:878–85. 4. Chen-Scarabelli C, Scarabelli TM. Neurocardiogenic syncope. BMJ 2004;329:336–41. 5. Brignole M, Alboni P, Benditt DG, et al. Guidelines on management (diagnosis and treatment) of sync...

BACKGROUND This clinical investigation was performed to compare the effects of permanent dual-chamber cardiac pacing with pharmacological therapy in patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients from 14 centers were randomized to receive either a DDD pacemaker provided with rate-drop response function or the beta-blocker atenolol at the dosage of 100 mg once a day. I...

Introduction: Medical emergencies can frequently happen in dental settings and inability to cope with them can lead to tragic outcomes. The of aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of medical emergencies in dental settings in Babol, Iran and dentists’ self-perceived need for practical training in this field. Materials and Methods: A descriptive-ana-lytical study was performed ...

Syncope, especially in older-age applicants, presents a risk selection quandary. When the etiology is established, risk classification is based on the causative impairment. However, often no diagnosis is ascertained. The lack of diagnosis presents a dilemma for the medical director. Underwriting decisions must be based on sound actuarial principles or related to actual and reasonable anticipate...

BACKGROUND The pathophysiology of vasovagal syncope is poorly understood, and the treatment usually ineffective. Our clinical experience is that patients with vasovagal syncope fall into 2 groups, based on their supine systolic blood pressure, which is either normal (>100 mm Hg) or low (70-100 mm Hg). We investigated neural circulatory control in these 2 phenotypes. METHODS AND RESULTS Sympat...

PURPOSE Vasovagally mediated hypotension and bradycardia are believed to be common, but difficult to diagnose, causes of syncope. Upright tilt-table testing has been proposed as a possible way to test for vasovagal episodes. This study investigated the clinical utility of this technique in the evaluation and management of patients with syncope of unknown origin. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-fi...

BACKGROUND Up to 60% of syncopal episodes remain unexplained. We report the results of a standardized, stepwise evaluation of patients referred to an ambulatory clinic for unexplained syncope. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied 939 consecutive patients referred for unexplained syncope, who underwent a standardized evaluation, including history, physical examination, electrocardiogram, head-up til...

Activity in Patients With Vasovagal Syncope To the Editor: In their study, “Dysfunctional Baroreflex Regulation of Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Patients With Vasovagal Syncope,” Béchir et al1 implied a unilateral causal relationship between reduction of arterial baroreflex control of heart rate and increase of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in patients with syncope. The authors concl...