[Syncope and carotid paraganglioma]

Syncope is a medical emergency, which is more or less frequent. Its prevalence increases with age. It is defined as the loss of consciousness and postural tone resulting from a transient alteration of cerebral flow. It appears suddenly, but it does not leave behind any sequela or after-effects. Out of two groups, the neutrally mediated (or neuromediated) syncope, especially the one called carotid sinus hypersensitivity, is related to the carotid sinus paraganglioma. It is triggered by sinus pressure, which results in sudden death by overstimulation. In the next article, we show the case of a sexagenarian female patient with a disabling syncope and a 7 cm carotid body paraganglioma, which did not allow her the minimum movement of lateral dorsiflexion or extension of the neck. For this reason, the patient had to remain hospitalized, in a dorsal decubitus position with semiflexion of the neck. Before the surgery was practiced, a temporary pacemaker was used, and after the resection of the carotid body paraganglioma, in accordance to the patient's studies of cardiac electrophysiology, she was discharged without electrical nerve stimulation.