Malignant Vasovagal Syncope

From Volume 33, Issue 4, May 2006 | Pages 246-250

Authors

Paul R Sharma

BDS, MFDS, RCSEd

Dental Officer, Dental Department, Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary, Majors Loan, Falkirk FK1 5QE, UK

Articles by Paul R Sharma

Allister D Hargreaves

BSc, MB, ChB, MRCP, MD

Consultant Cardiologist, Cardiology Department, Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary, Majors Loan, Falkirk FK1 5QE, UK

Articles by Allister D Hargreaves

Abstract

We report the case of a 21-year-old male whose frequent episodes of loss of consciousness in the dental surgery culminated in the postponement of treatment, pending further investigation. The patient was referred to a cardiologist and submitted to head-up tilt testing, which evoked prolonged asystole, associated with loss of consciousness and mild generalized twitching, confirming a diagnosis of malignant vasovagal syncope.

Before dental treatment could be completed, the patient was successfully treated with disopyramide and dual-chamber pacemaker implantation.

Article