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Use of an event recorder in the decision for pacemaker implantation in a child with syncope
Henri A Verhaaren1, Olivier Vanakker, Van Coster
1Division of Paediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. henri.verhaaren@rug.ac.be
Insights
Event recorders aid in diagnosing unexplained loss of consciousness in children. Prompt pacemaker implantation resolved paroxysmal attacks in a young patient, highlighting the device
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Neurology
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Recurrent episodes of unexplained loss of consciousness (syncope) in infants present diagnostic challenges.
- The utility of long-term cardiac monitoring in pediatric syncope requires further investigation.
Observation:
- A 17-month-old female experienced recurrent, paroxysmal episodes of syncope.
- A patient-triggered and automatic event recorder was utilized for monitoring.
Findings:
- The event recorder captured critical data leading to a diagnosis.
- Following pacemaker implantation, the patient's syncopal episodes completely resolved.
Implications:
- Event recorders are valuable tools for diagnosing syncope in young children.
- Early diagnosis and intervention, such as pacemaker implantation, can effectively manage cardiac-related syncope in pediatric populations.
Unlabelled:
The use of a patient-triggered and automatic event recorder is documented in a 17-month-old girl presenting with paroxysmal episodes of loss of consciousness. After pacemaker implantation, the paroxysmal attacks disappeared.
Conclusion:
we recommend a more frequent use of the event recorder in the investigation of syncope, especially in small children.