Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Sick sinus syndrome.

Michele Brignole1

  • 1Department of Cardiology and Arrhythmologic Centre, Ospedali Riuniti, Via Don Bobbio, 16032 Lavagna, Italy. mbrignole@ASL4.liguria.it

Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
|August 16, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Sick sinus syndrome, or sinus-node dysfunction, often presents without symptoms in the elderly. Diagnosis relies on electrocardiography, with cardiac pacing as the primary treatment for symptomatic cases.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Comparison between the fast and the traditional nitroglycerin head-up tilt test in paediatric population.

International journal of cardiology·2026
Same author

Cardiac resynchronization therapy in atrial fibrillation: do all patients need atrioventricular node ablation?

European heart journal·2026
Same author

Determinants of carotid sinus hypersensitivity in patients with suspected reflex syncope.

Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·2026
Same author

Reduced baroreflex sensitivity in situational syncope compared with vasovagal syncope: Evidence for different baroreflex profile.

Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical·2026
Same author

Indications, contraindications, and step-by-step methodology for performing carotid sinus massage in patients presenting with syncope : A scientific statement of an Ad Hoc Syncope Consortium endorsed by: the European Autonomic Society (EFAS), Gruppo Italiano Multidisciplinare Syncope (GIMSI) and European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS).

Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·2026
Same author

Vasovagal syncope: the role of 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

European heart journal supplements : journal of the European Society of Cardiology·2026

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Sinus-node dysfunction (SND) is prevalent in older adults, frequently asymptomatic.
  • Diagnosis often relies on 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) showing bradycardia, arrest, or block.
  • Sick sinus syndrome (SSS) is defined as symptomatic SND.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diagnosis and management of sick sinus syndrome.
  • To highlight the importance of ECG in diagnosing SND.
  • To discuss treatment strategies for SSS.

Main Methods:

  • Review of diagnostic criteria for SSS.
  • Emphasis on electrocardiographic findings.
  • Discussion of various diagnostic investigations including Holter monitoring and electrophysiologic studies.
  • Consideration of autonomic nervous system involvement.

Main Results:

  • Most SND cases are asymptomatic and diagnosed via ECG.
  • Symptoms of SSS are nonspecific and intermittent, requiring corroborating ECG evidence for diagnosis.
  • Autonomic dysfunction is often associated with SND and syncope.
  • Survival is not impacted by SSS itself, but comorbidities like AV block and atrial fibrillation affect outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • SSS diagnosis requires a clear link between symptoms and ECG findings of severe SND, after excluding other causes.
  • Management focuses on symptom relief and morbidity control.
  • Physiologic cardiac pacing (atrial or dual-chamber) is superior to ventricular pacing for SSS treatment.

Related Experiment Videos