Vasovagal syncope: Difference between revisions

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*Vasovagal fainting in children
==Different types of vasovagal syncope==
*Syncope due to blood phobia
* [[Young patients]]
*Reflex syncope in older adults
* [[Old patients]]
*Status vasovagalis 
* [[Post-exercise Syncope]]
*Syncope and the eye
* [[Blood phobia]]
*Vasovagal syncope interrupting sleep
* [[Blood donation]]
*Hallucinations cured by pacing
* [[Vasovagal syncope during sleep]]
 
==Triggers for Vasovagal Syncope==
Vasovagal syncope can occur after exposure of a lot of different triggers. Recognised triggers for vasovagal syncope are prolonged orthostatic stress, blood drawing, medical instrumentation and psychological stressors.
 
<br>
==Psychological stressors==
Psychological stressors include:
*Stirring emotional news or witnessing a distressing accident <cite>Lewis</cite>,<cite>Engel44</cite>
*Unexpected pain or threat <cite>Lewis</cite>,<cite>Greenfield</cite>
*Unpleasant smells may trigger vasovagal syncope <cite>Engel47</cite>,<cite>Ganzeboom</cite>
*During blood drawing,
*Vaccination <cite>Braun</cite>
*Instrumentation, pain of the procedure may contribute to vasovagal syncope
*Sharp pain is reported to be an important factor during arterial blood sampling <cite>Rushmer</cite>.
*Blood phobia: ''However, in a patient with blood phobia just thinking or talking about blood drawing may elicit a common faint <cite>Dijk01</cite>'' 
 
 
<br>
==Vasovagal syncope in airliners==
Vasovagal episodes are the most common in-flight medical events, and may affect patients of all ages <cite>Gendreau</cite>.
The following may all predispose vasovagal faints during air travel <cite>Sutton</cite>:<br>
* Prolonged motionless sitting
* The use of alcohol
* Anxiety
* Mild hypoxia during air travel
Cabin pressure in commercial aircraft is usually adjusted to the equivalent of an altitude of 1500 to 2500 m above sea level. It appears that hypoxic syncope results from the super-imposed vasodilator effects of hypoxia on the cardiovascular system <cite>Halliwill</cite>.
 
===Treatment===
Patients, who otherwise never experienced a (severe) vasovagal episode may suffer from convulsive syncope during air travel <cite>Wieling06</cite>. These patients should be advised to have:
* A high salt intake in the days prior to travelling by plane
* Reduce anti-hypertensive medication –if feasible-
* And drink non-alcoholic beverages galore during the trip.
Especially during long flights (> 2 hours) they should perform in-chair [[Physical counterpressure manoeuvers|muscle tensing and relaxing exercise]] and have a regular walk through the isle. In recurrent cases '''midodrine''' prior to flying or '''supportive stockings''' can be considered.
 
 
==References==
<biblio>
#Lewis pmid=20776843
#Engel44 Engel GL, Romano J, & McLin TR (1944). Vasodepressor and carotid sinus syncope - clinical, eletroencephalographic and electrocardiographic observations. Arch Intern Med 74, 100-119.
#Greenfield GREENFIELD AD (1951). An emotional faint. Lancet 1, 1302-1303.
#Engel47 Engel GL & Romano J (1947). Studies of Syncope: IV. Biologic interpretation of vasodepressor syncope. Psychosom Med 9, 288-294.
#Ganzeboom pmid=12686351
#Braun pmid=9080932
#Rushmer Rushmer, R.F. Circulatory collapse following mechanical stimulation of arteries. Am. J. Physiol. 1944;141:722.
#Dijk01 pmid=11227958
#Krediet04b pmid=15480927
#Bjurstedt pmid=6650203
#Finlay pmid=8531620
#Tsutsumi pmid=52682
#Holtzhausen95 pmid=8614313
#Holtzhausen97 pmid=9397327
#Schlesinger pmid=4800477
#Gendreau pmid=11932475
#Sutton pmid=11543489
#Halliwill pmid=15531565
#Wieling06 pmid=16836688
#Jardine06b Jardine DL, Krediet CT, Cortelli P, & Wieling W (2006b). Sleep syncope: clinical features and autonomic profiles. Clin Auton Res 16, 321-322.
#Krediet04a pmid=15084573
#Tinuper pmid=11701591
#Covanis pmid=16950946
#Brierley pmid=11445105
#Pathy pmid=83099
#Fisher pmid=264159
</biblio>