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Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia 2023In the pediatric population, syncope is mainly from vasovagal (VVS) origin. Its evaluation must be done by clinical methods, and the tilt test (TT) can contribute to the... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
In the pediatric population, syncope is mainly from vasovagal (VVS) origin. Its evaluation must be done by clinical methods, and the tilt test (TT) can contribute to the diagnosis.
OBJECTIVES
To analyze the clinical profile, Calgary and modified Calgary scores, response to TT and heart rate variability (HRV) of patients aged ≤ 18 years with presumed VVS. To compare the variables between patients with positive and negative responses to TT.
METHOD
Observational and prospective study, with 73 patients aged between 6 and 18 years, submitted to clinical evaluation and calculation of scores without previous knowledge of the TT. It was done at 70º under monitoring for HRV analysis. P-value < 0.05 was the statistical significance criterion.
RESULTS
Median age was 14.0 years; 52% of participants were female, 72 had Calgary ≥ -2 (mean 1.80), and 69 had modified Calgary ≥ -3 (mean 1.38). Prodromes were observed in 59 patients, recurrence in 50 and trauma in 19. The response to TT was positive in 54 participants (49 vasovagal, with 39 vasodepressor responses), with an increase in the low frequency (LF) component and a decrease in the high frequency (HF) component (p < 0,0001). In the supine position, LF was 33.6 in females and 47.4 in normalized units for males (p = 0.02). When applying the operating characteristic curve for positive TT, there was no statistical significance for HRV and scores.
CONCLUSION
Most children and adolescents with a presumed diagnosis of VVS presented a typical clinical scenario, with a Calgary score ≥ -2, and a predominant vasodepressor response to TT. Greater sympathetic activation was observed in the supine position in males. Calgary scores and sympathetic activation did not predict the response to TT.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Female; Humans; Male; Autonomic Nervous System; Heart Rate; Prospective Studies; Syncope; Syncope, Vasovagal; Tilt-Table Test
PubMed: 37556654
DOI: 10.36660/abc.20220543 -
Heart (British Cardiac Society) Dec 2023The study compared clinical characteristics and response at head-up tilt test (HUTT) between situational (SS) and vasovagal syncope (VVS).
OBJECTIVE
The study compared clinical characteristics and response at head-up tilt test (HUTT) between situational (SS) and vasovagal syncope (VVS).
METHODS
Consecutive patients who underwent nitroglycerin-potentiated HUTT were retrospectively dichotomised into two groups: those with a history of SS and those with a history of VVS. The patients with SS were further subdivided into patients with SS alone and with SS and at least one episode of VVS.
RESULTS
1285 patients were enrolled: 246 (19.1%) had SS (SS alone in 121 and SS+VVS in 125). Patients with SS were older (48.8±20.0 vs 44.4±19.1, p=0.007) and more frequently male (57.3% vs 47.7%, p=0.001). At multivariable analysis, smoking habit (OR 2.28; p<0.0001), history of traumatic syncope (OR 2.29; p=0.0001) and ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (OR 4.74; p<0.0001) were independently associated with SS. HUTT was positive in 175 (71.1%) patients with SS and in 737 (70.9%) patients with VVS (p=0.9). Patients with SS showed more mixed (42.3% vs 32.0%, p=0.002) and vasodepressor forms (10.6% vs 6.1%, p=0.01) and less cardioinhibitory responses compared with others (18.3% vs 32.8%, p<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with VVS, patients with SS have different clinical characteristics and a higher prevalence of hypotensive drugs leading to hypotensive susceptibility. The positivity rate of HUTT is high and similar to that of VVS, although patients with SS show a higher prevalence of hypotensive responses.
Topics: Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Syncope; Syncope, Vasovagal; Tilt-Table Test; Nitroglycerin
PubMed: 37527918
DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2023-322943 -
Age and Ageing Feb 2024Syncope can have devastating consequences, resulting in injuries, accidents or even death. In our ageing society, the subsequent healthcare usage, such as emergency room...
Syncope can have devastating consequences, resulting in injuries, accidents or even death. In our ageing society, the subsequent healthcare usage, such as emergency room presentations, surgeries and hospital admissions, forms a significant and growing socioeconomic burden. Causes of syncope in the older adult include orthostatic hypotension, carotid sinus syndrome, vasovagal syncope, structural cardiac abnormalities, cardiac arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities. As stated in the recently published World Falls Guidelines, syncope in older adults often presents as falls, which is either due to amnesia for loss of consciousness, or pre-syncope leading to a fall, especially in those prone to falls with several other risk-factors for falls present. This difference in presentation can hinder the recognition of syncope. In patients with unexplained falls, or in whom the history comprises red flags for potential syncope, special attention to (pre)syncope is therefore warranted. When syncope is mistaken for other causes of a transient loss of consciousness, such as epileptic seizures, or when syncope presents as falls, patients are often referred to multiple specialists, which may in turn lead to excessive and unnecessary diagnostic testing and costs. Specialist services that are able to provide a comprehensive assessment can improve diagnostic yield and minimise diagnostic testing, thus improving patient satisfaction. Comprehensive assessment also leads to reduced length of hospital stay. Increasingly, geriatricians are involved in the assessment of syncope in the older patient, especially given the overlap with falls. Therefore, awareness of causes of syncope, as well as state-of-the-art assessment and treatment, is of great importance.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Syncope; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Aging; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38331395
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afad245 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2024Vasovagal syncope (VVS) and psychogenic pseudosyncope (PPS) can be difficult to distinguish, given their similar clinical presentations. This study was conducted to...
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Vasovagal syncope (VVS) and psychogenic pseudosyncope (PPS) can be difficult to distinguish, given their similar clinical presentations. This study was conducted to explore the clinical value of catecholamine levels in the differential diagnosis of VVS and PPS in children.
METHODS
This retrospective case-control study was conducted with data from children with VVS and PPS who underwent head-up tilt tests (HUTTs) at the Children's Hospital of Hebei Province between March 2021 and March 2023. The data collected were baseline clinical characteristics, HUTT results, serum catecholamine levels in the supine and upright positions, and 24 h urinary catecholamine concentrations. These variables were compared between the VVS and PPS groups.
RESULTS
From 328 potentially eligible cases, 54 (16.46%) cases of VVS and 24 (7.32%) cases of PPS were included in the analysis. No significant difference in age, sex, body mass index, or syncope frequency was observed between the VVS and PPS groups. The main predisposing factors for syncope were body position changes in the VSS group (83.33%) and emotional changes in the PPS group (41.67%). The episode duration was significantly shorter in the VSS group than in the PPS group (4.01 ± 1.20 vs. 24.06 ± 5.56 min, < 0.05). The recovery time was also shorter in the VVS group than in the PPS group (1.91 ± 0.85 vs. 8.62 ± 2.55 min, < 0.05). Relative to patients with PPS, those with VVS had significantly higher serum epinephrine (EP) levels in the upright position [199.35 (102.88, 575.00) vs. 147.40 (103.55, 227.25), < 0.05] and lower serum epinephrine levels in the supine position [72.70 (42.92, 122.85) vs. 114.50 (66.57, 227.50), < 0.05].
CONCLUSIONS
Serum EP levels have potential value in the differential diagnosis of VVS and PPS.
PubMed: 38884104
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1281196 -
Minerva Cardiology and Angiology Oct 2023Neurocardiogenic syncope is the most common cause of transient loss of consciousness and considerably reduces quality of life. Pharmacological and pacing therapy may not... (Review)
Review
Neurocardiogenic syncope is the most common cause of transient loss of consciousness and considerably reduces quality of life. Pharmacological and pacing therapy may not be fully efficacious and complications related to implanted hardware must be considered. In this context, cardioneuroablation (CNA) has been proposed to attenuate the vagal reflex with elimination of cardioinhibition. It has been shown that CNA is able to eliminate recurrences of syncope in over 90% of cases and no major complications are reported in the current literature. Despite these encouraging findings, CNA is only mentioned in current guidelines as a possible alternative treatment and has no real indication class. The diversity of mapping techniques, the absence of direct denervation control, the lack of a precise endpoint, the possible placebo effect, the short follow-up, and the question of the learning curve represent the major limitations of this promising procedure. The aim of this review was to look over the existing literature, analysing the novelties, the limitations, the unresolved issues and the outcome of CNA.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Endocardium; Syncope, Vasovagal
PubMed: 36305776
DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5683.22.06131-2 -
JACC. Clinical Electrophysiology Mar 2024
Topics: Humans; Syncope, Vasovagal; Aging; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial
PubMed: 38385915
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacep.2024.01.004 -
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan) May 2024A 74-year-old woman presented to our hospital with syncope after a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Upon admission, she passed out, and an 8 second sinus...
A 74-year-old woman presented to our hospital with syncope after a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Upon admission, she passed out, and an 8 second sinus arrest was detected during telemetry monitoring. During the next syncope episode, telemetry monitoring showed that her heart rate decreased from 80 to 36 bpm, accompanied by a 2.4 second pause. A permanent pacemaker was implanted; however, the patient still experienced syncope. The head-up tilt test revealed a vasodepressor reflex syncope. The need for permanent pacemakers in patients with syncope following COVID-19 therefore remains controversial.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Aged; Female; Syncope; Pacemaker, Artificial; SARS-CoV-2; Tilt-Table Test; Telemetry; Syncope, Vasovagal
PubMed: 38432984
DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.3324-23 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2023Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is usually mediated by the autonomic nerve and most often happens in the upright position. However, it can also occur in other positions and...
BACKGROUND
Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is usually mediated by the autonomic nerve and most often happens in the upright position. However, it can also occur in other positions and can be relieved by lying down while likely to have another attack after relief. In the current study, we aim to evaluate the predictive effect of catecholamines and electrolytes on the recurrence of OI in children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Children who were diagnosed with vasovagal syncope (VVS), postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and VVS combined with POTS were enrolled in this retrospective study and were followed up after 1-year physical treatment. Catecholamines in urine collected within 24 h, renin, angiotensin II, aldosterone in plasma, and electrolytes in both blood and urine collected in the morning were tested. A multivariate analysis and a receiver operating characteristic curve were used to validate the prediction effect.
RESULTS
In the VVS cohort, the 24 h urine adrenaline (AD) and norepinephrine (NE) levels of the non-recurrence group were lower than the 24 h urine AD and NE levels of the recurrence group, with a significant difference of < 0.05. A different content can also be witnessed in the POTS cohort that the urine of the non-recurrence group contained lower sodium and chlorine. As for the VVS + POTS cohort, the non-recurrence group has lower AD and NE levels and higher potassium and phosphorus levels in urine, the difference of which proved prominent as well.
CONCLUSION
The study provides further evidence that AD, NE, and electrolytes in urine are promising factors that are closely related to the recurrence of OI in children. The integrated evaluation system merging AD and NE may have better predictive ability.
PubMed: 37705599
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1220990 -
JACC. Cardiovascular Interventions May 2024Fasting before coronary procedures is currently recommended to reduce complications despite the lack of scientific evidence. (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Fasting before coronary procedures is currently recommended to reduce complications despite the lack of scientific evidence.
OBJECTIVES
The TONIC (Comparison Between Fasting and No Fasting Before Interventional Coronary Intervention on the Occurrence of Adverse Events) noninferiority trial investigated the safety and comfort of a nonfasting strategy (ad libitum food and drinks) vs traditional fasting (>6 hours for solid food and liquids) before coronary procedures.
METHODS
In this monocentric, prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial, 739 patients undergoing coronary procedures were included and randomized to a fasting or a nonfasting strategy. Emergency procedures were excluded. The primary endpoint was a composite of vasovagal reaction, hypoglycemia (defined by blood sugar ≤0.7 g/L), and isolated nausea and/or vomiting. Noninferiority margin was 4%. Secondary endpoints were contrast-induced nephropathy and patients' satisfaction.
RESULTS
Among the 739 procedures (697 elective and 42 semiurgent), 517 angiographies, and 222 angioplasties (including complex and high-risk procedures) were performed. The primary endpoint occurred in 30 of 365 nonfasting patients (8.2%) vs 37 of 374 fasting patients (9.9%), demonstrating noninferiority (absolute between-group difference, -1.7%; 1-sided 95% CI upper limit: 1.8%). No food-related adverse event occurred, and contrast-related acute kidney injuries were similar between groups. Overall, procedure satisfaction and perceived pain were similar in both groups, but nonfasting patients reported less hunger and thirst (P < 0.01). In case of redo coronary procedures, most patients (79%) would choose a nonfasting strategy.
CONCLUSIONS
The TONIC randomized trial demonstrates the noninferiority of a nonfasting strategy to the usual fasting strategy for coronary procedures regarding safety, while improving patients' comfort.
Topics: Humans; Fasting; Male; Female; Prospective Studies; Single-Blind Method; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome; Aged; Time Factors; Risk Factors; Patient Satisfaction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Coronary Angiography; Hypoglycemia; Syncope, Vasovagal; Blood Glucose; Coronary Artery Disease; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 38811102
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcin.2024.03.033 -
Frontiers in Pain Research (Lausanne,... 2023Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA), a standardized auricular acupuncture protocol, is widely used for pain in the military but is not well-studied in oncology. This study...
INTRODUCTION
Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA), a standardized auricular acupuncture protocol, is widely used for pain in the military but is not well-studied in oncology. This study examined cancer survivors who received BFA for pain.
METHODS
This is a secondary analysis of a randomized trial that compared the effectiveness of BFA and electroacupuncture vs. usual care for chronic musculoskeletal pain in cancer survivors. This study focused on participants randomized to BFA. Participants received 10 weekly treatments. Needles were placed until one of these stop conditions were satisfied: ten needles were administered; pain severity decreased to ≤1 out of 10; patient declined further needling, or vasovagal reaction was observed. Pain severity was assessed using Brief Pain Inventory. Responders were those with ≥30% pain severity reduction. We examined pain location, BFA stop reason, and pain reduction of participants during the first session. We also examined which factors predicted responder status after the first session (week 1) or the full treatment (week 12).
RESULTS
Among 143 randomized to BFA, most common pain locations were lower back (30.8%) and knee/leg (18.2%). Of 138 who initiated treatment, 41 (30.0%) received ten needles; 81 (59.1%) achieved pain ≤1; 14 (10.2%) declined further needling; and 1 (0.7%) had vasovagal reaction. BFA reduced pain severity by 2.9 points (95% CI 2.6 to 3.2) after the first session ( < 0.001). After adjusting for baseline pain severity, responders at week 1 were 2.5 times more likely to be responders at week 12, compared to those who were non-responders at week 1 (AOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.02 to 6.11, = 0.04). Among those who achieved pain ≤1, 74% were responders at week 12, a higher proportion compared to the proportion of responders among those who received ten needles (39.5%), those who declined further needling (50%), and those with vasovagal reaction (0.0%) ( = 0.001). Those with pain in proximal joints had a higher proportion of responders at week 12, compared to those with pain in distal joints (64.2% vs. 20%, = 0.008).
CONCLUSION
Specific factors may predict the likelihood of achieving meaningful pain reduction from BFA. Understanding these predictors could inform precision pain management and acupuncture delivery models.
PubMed: 38116187
DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1279420