American heart journal
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American heart journal · Oct 1988
Carotid sinus hypersensitivity in patients with unexplained syncope: clinical, electrophysiologic, and long-term follow-up observations.
To assess the incidence and clinical characteristics of carotid sinus hypersensitivity and the relationship to electrophysiologic findings, 76 patients with unexplained syncope underwent carotid sinus massage during electrophysiologic studies for syncope evaluation. Twenty-one patients (28%) were found to have carotid sinus hypersensitivity. Of these 21 patients, 11 (52%) had coronary artery disease, two (10%) had hypertensive heart disease, and eight (38%) had no organic heart disease. ⋯ Subsequently, this patient has done well after implantation of a pacemaker. These observations suggest that there is a significant incidence of carotid sinus hypersensitivity in patients with unexplained syncope. Permanent pacing appears to be beneficial in selected patients based on clinical and electrophysiologic findings.