Non-Pharmacological Management of Neurocardiogenic Syncope

AbstractNeurocardiogenic syncope is a common disorder. It is diagnosed by obtaining a detailed history and performing a head-up tilt test, with or without drug provocation. Several studies have been performed pertaining to its management. However, no treatment, whether pharmacological or non-pharmacological, except for counterpressure maneuvers and daily orthostatic tilt training, has been proven effective. Randomized studies of therapies for neurocardiogenic syncope are needed

Inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks—incidence, effect, and implications for driver licensing

PurposePatients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have an ongoing risk of sudden incapacitation that may cause traffic accidents. However, there are limited data on the magnitude of this risk after inappropriate ICD therapies. We studied the rate of syncope associated with inappropriate ICD therapies to provide a scientific basis for formulating driving restrictions.MethodsInappropriate ICD therapy event data between 1997 and 2014 from 50 Japanese institutions were analyzed retrospectively. The annual risk of harm (RH) to others posed by a driver with an ICD was calculated for private driving habits. We used a commonly employed annual RH to others of 5 in 100,000 (0.005%) as an acceptable risk threshold.ResultsOf the 4089 patients, 772 inappropriate ICD therapies occurred in 417 patients (age 61 ± 15 years, 74% male, and 65% secondary prevention). Patients experiencing inappropriate therapies had a mean number of 1.8 ± 1.5 therapy episodes during a median follow-up period of 3.9 years. No significant differences were found in the age, sex, or number of inappropriate therapies between patients receiving ICDs for primary or secondary prevention. Only three patients (0.7%) experienced syncope associated with inappropriate therapies. The maximum annual RH to others after the first therapy in primary and secondary prevention patients was calculated to be 0.11 in 100,000 and 0.12 in 100,000, respectively.ConclusionsWe found that the annual RH from driving was far below the commonly cited acceptable risk threshold. Our data provide useful information to supplement current recommendations on driving restrictions in ICD patients with private driving habits

Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring devices for evaluating transient loss of consciousness or other related symptoms

Capturing electrocardiograms (ECGs) during spontaneous events is the most powerful available tool to identify or exclude an arrhythmic cause of symptoms, and often can elucidate the definite diagnosis for different conditions, such as transient loss of consciousness (T-LOC), lightheadedness, or palpitations. Current ambulatory ECG monitoring technologies include 24-hour Holter, wearable event recorder, external loop recorder (ELR), and insertable cardiac monitoring (ICM). Of them, Holter ECG is most frequently used in daily practice in Japan, while ELR and ICM are less frequently used. However, the appropriate monitor choice should be based on the expected frequency of symptoms. Frequent events may be adequately detected by Holter ECG, but less frequent symptoms are more effectively assessed by longer-term monitoring (i.e., ELR or ICM). In this report, based on our clinical experience, we review the usefulness of ambulatory ECG monitoring devices, especially of ELR, for evaluating T-LOC and other potentially arrhythmia-related symptoms. Specifically, we focus on the use of ELR and ICM for evaluating Japanese patients with T-LOC. Keywords: Transient loss of consciousness, Syncope, Insertable cardiac monitoring, External loop recorder, Holter electrocardiogra

Identifying atrial arrhythmias versus pacing-induced rhythm disorders with state-of-the-art cardiac implanted devices

Repetitive non-reentrant ventriculo-atrial synchrony (RNRVAS) is a pacemaker-induced arrhythmia that must be distinguished from atrial fibrillation (AF). Pacemaker-induced arrhythmias are commonly detected as atrial high rate episodes (AHRE) by implanted cardiac devices. Two main types of atrial oversensing are recognized: far-field R-wave (FFRW) oversensing and pacemaker-induced arrhythmias, which include pacemaker-mediated tachycardia and RNRVAS. The presence of ventriculo-atrial conduction is required for both types of pacemaker-induced arrhythmias. The incidence of RNRVAS can increase with the use of various device settings and functions, such as long atrioventricular (AV) interval programming, the rate-adaptive mode, and the atrial overdrive pacing algorithm. The negative aspects of pacemaker-induced arrhythmias, especially RNRVAS, include (1) loss of optimal AV delay, (2) inappropriate increase in ventricular pacing, (3) induction of atrial arrhythmias, and (4) inaccurate diagnosis of AHRE. We review the incidence of arrhythmias, electrophysiological mechanisms, and the clinical diagnosis of RNRVAS identified by using dual-chamber implantable cardiac devices