title: First steps toward a pacing algorithm for vasovagal syncope.
abstract: Vasovagal syncope is commonly associated with an intermediate fall in heart rate. Consequently, it seemed possible that a pacemaker algorithm designed to detect intermediate heart rate falls might prove useful as a diagnostic tool to initiate pacing therapy. Subsequent experience suggests that with such an approach it is still difficult to avoid "false-positive" detection of physiologic heart rate slowing (e.g., sleep). On the other hand, findings from several reports suggest that high rate pacing using this algorithm has proved clinically effective.
authors.affiliation: Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004867:Equipment Design; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*