BACKGROUND The finding of bundle branch block in patients with syncope suggests that paroxysmal AV block may be the cause of syncope, even though its prevalence is unknown. METHODS We evaluated 55 consecutive patients with syncope and bundle branch block (mean age 75 +/- 8 years; median of two syncopal episodes per patient) referred to three Syncope Units. The hierarchy and appropriateness of...

Syncope is a frequent cause of access to emergency departments. Recurrent syncope may be associated with transient lock consciousness. When neurological or cardiological common causes are excluded, rare syncope, such as solid carotid tumors, should considered. In this study, we report case left chemodectoma in patient the room for which thorough differential diagnosis has been performed.

CONTEXT Three previous small randomized trials have reported that pacemaker therapy is beneficial for patients with severe recurrent vasovagal syncope. However, because these trials were not double blind, they may have been biased in their assessment of outcomes and had a placebo effect of surgery. OBJECTIVE To determine if pacing therapy reduces the risk of syncope in patients with vasovagal...

Tilt table testing has long been used as a standard tool in the diagnostic evaluation of syncope. However, differences of opinion exist with regard to its utility in the evaluation of patients with only presyncopal attacks. We present the results of drug-free, 70-degree head-up tilt table tests (maximum duration of 45 minutes), conducted between May 2002 and May 2003 in the Department of Physio...

AIMS The aim of this study was to examine the effect on symptoms in patients with induced cardioinhibitory carotid sinus syndrome (ICSS) when treated or not treated with a pacemaker. METHODS AND RESULTS Sixty patients with a history of syncope or pre-syncope and ICSS were randomized to receive a permanent pacemaker (P group, n = 30) or no pacing (NP group, n = 30). ICSS was defined as a ventr...

BACKGROUND Nitroglycerin (NTG) challenge during head-up tilt-table testing (HUTT) is often utilized to determine the etiology of unexplained vascular syncope. However, conflicting results concerning nitrate-induced hemodynamic changes during HUTT have been reported. The purpose of this study was to assess the determinants of presyncopal symptoms during NTG-stimulated HUTT. METHODS We evaluate...