Optimal duration of monitoring in patients with unexplained syncope

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 92; no. 10; pp. 1231 - 1233
• Main Authors: Assar, Manish D, Krahn, Andrew D, Klein, George J, Yee, Raymond, Skanes, Allan C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 15.11.2003; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac dysrhythmias; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular disease; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; Electrodes, Implanted; Female; Health risk assessment; Heart; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Probability; Recurrence; Syncope - diagnosis; Syncope - etiology; Syncope - physiopathology; Time Factors; Human; Nervous system diseases; Prognosis; Arrhythmia; Consciousness impairment; Cardiovascular disease; Recorder; Survival; Follow up study; Implanted; Syncope; Heart disease; Diagnosis; Neurological disorder; Monitoring
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2003.07.042

The optimal duration of monitoring of patients with recurrent unexplained syncope who undergo prolonged monitoring with an implantable loop recorder is unknown. We examined the probability of syncope in a group of 167 patients with this condition who underwent prolonged monitoring with an implantable loop recorder. A 12-month monitoring period appears to capture >90% of episodes. Syncope is most likely to occur in younger patients with less heart disease and more frequent syncope. There is a low risk of syncope after 1 year of monitoring without an event.