Memorial Ankara Hospital Cardiology Department Head Prof. Dr. Ali Oto gave information about "vaso-vagal syncope" and treatment methods at the Cardio Memory'24 scientific meeting.
Temporary loss of consciousness due to short-term disruption of cerebral circulation due to low blood flow to the brain is defined as "fainting". Some of the fainting cases, which have a prevalence rate of 3 percent in the society, occur due to epileptic seizures, and some occur due to rhythm disturbances in the form of slow beats or some fast beats due to electrical system malfunctions in the heart, especially in older ages. However, reflex fainting, especially seen in young people, is known to be the most common and is evaluated in a separate group.
It is thought that temporary disruption of the reflex mechanisms responsible for maintaining blood pressure and brain circulation causes fainting, known in medical terms as "vaso-vagal syncope". The most common causes of vase vagal syncope are standing for a long time, crowded environment, heat, pain or excitement. In addition, situational causes such as urination, defecation, coughing and laughing can sometimes cause fainting. However, reflex fainting, which is especially common in young people and called "vaso vagal syncope", must be evaluated carefully and the underlying cause must be determined correctly for appropriate treatment.
There are many people who are thought to have epilepsy and use medication unnecessarily.
"It is thought that the temporary disruption of the reflex mechanisms responsible for maintaining blood pressure and brain circulation causes fainting, which is medically defined as "vaso-vagal syncope"," said Prof. Dr. Ali Oto made evaluations about fainting with unknown cause.
"Although the patient does not have any structural defects in the heart or brain or nervous system problems, he may suddenly faint while urinating, laughing, coughing, seeing blood, receiving bad news, or standing for too long. Fainting, which is especially common during official ceremonies, is among the examples of this situation. In the current situation, blood pools in the legs, blood flow to the brain decreases, and blood pressure drops suddenly. Roughly speaking, an imbalance in the nerves of the heart and the resulting reflex incompatibility develops, and the patient suddenly collapses. "When blood pressure improves and heart rate returns to normal, it recovers rapidly and consciousness returns completely."
Prof. said that this type of fainting is more common in young individuals. Dr. Oto underlined that fainting may be due to many underlying causes, and stated that the important thing here is that the patient is evaluated by cardiologists who are experts in their field and receives a correct diagnosis. He emphasized that many patients may be exposed to unnecessary medication use throughout their lives due to misdiagnosis and are mistaken for epilepsy.
The patient is diagnosed with "Vasovagal Syncope" by tilt table test.
Prof. Dr. At the Cardio Memory '24 scientific meeting, Ali Oto said that patients who did not find any findings in their cardiological and neurological evaluations and were evaluated within the scope of "vaso vagal syncope" type fainting were diagnosed with the tilt table test. He stated that with the test, also known as the "head up tilt" or "tilt table" test in medical terms, the patient was laid on a 45-degree inclined table, kept in this position for a while, and fainting was triggered in a controlled manner by giving medication from time to time. "This test, performed with special protocols, provides very important information in both the diagnosis and treatment of reflex fainting," he said.
"Cardioneural Ablation" comes into play for cases that cannot be treated with medication.
Professor said that until recently, some general supportive recommendations (not staying hydrated, not standing for long periods of time, compression stockings, etc.) along with some medications and exercises were recommended in the treatment of reflex fainting. Dr. However, Oto stated that there are patients who cannot recover and continue to faint, and that a new method has been successfully applied in the treatment of this group of patients in the last few years, and continued as follows:
''Thanks to this method called Cardioneural Ablation, radiofrequency energy is given to the areas where the nerve endings coming to the heart are collected, eliminating the imbalance of the nervous system in the heart, thus controlling fainting. Patients can return to their normal lives on the same day with this method, which is performed as a day procedure by entering the groin under local anesthesia and without the need for any surgery. ''Cardioneural ablation'', which was applied and was successful in selected patients, has opened a new era in the treatment of fainting.''
Cardio Memory'24 brought together famous names of heart health
At the meeting held at Memorial Ankara Hospital Conference Hall, developments and innovations in cardiology as well as approaches to different cases were discussed. At the scientific meeting attended by valuable cardiologists from Memorial Health Group and leading physicians from various regions of Turkey, interesting case presentations and experiences that could inspire the fight against cardiovascular diseases were also shared.