Cardiac syncope: a case exhibiting dichotomy between clinical impression and electrophysiologic evaluation

This case report illustrates the value of electrophysiologic study in patients presenting with graphically unmonitored syncope and/or sudden cardiac death, and who have clinical markers of both bradycardia and ventricular tachycardia. In our patient, a wide QRS on the electrocardiogram and Holter monitor documented high grade ventricular ectopic activity. In this case, had therapy been solely guided by the clinical impression that the patient had ventricular tachycardia, the treatment would have resulted in increasing the risk of recurrence of syncope and/or sudden cardiac death.