Different treatments for different mechanisms in vasovagal syncope
- Author:
Quan FANG
;
Kangan CHENG
;
Hua DENG
;
Ning WU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
vasovagal syncope;
beta-blocker;
cardiac pacing;
tilt table test;
heart block
- From:
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology
2006;3(1):61-64
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The treatment of vasovagal syncope has been by far unsatisfactory. Beta-blockers may prevent vasovagal syncope, but they exacerbates heart asystole. Cardiac pacing prevents syncope but notpresyncope. The frequent, serious vasovagal syncope attacks of a 63- year-old woman patient were completely prevented by administration of 100 mg metoprolol (b.i.d) for 3 months until the patient experienced a complete heart block. A DDD pacemaker implantation abolished syncope but not the presyncope, which was eventually prevented in a follow-up period of 24 months by adding 75 mg atenalol twice a day. This case suggests a different mechanism involved in vasovagal syncope.