The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not the intravenous adenosine test readily identifies patients with unexplained syncope who would benefit from permanent pacemaker implantation.
The investigation of syncope (transient loss of consciousness with loss of postural tone, collapse and spontaneous recovery) varies widely, is often lengthy and frequently expensive. The intravenous adenosine test has been used in the investigation of syncope and is cheap, safe and free of serious side effects. However, it is unclear what diagnosis the test unearths. There is some evidence that the test readily identifies bradycardia pacing indications. In this study we plan to perform the adenosine test and implant a pacemaker should the test be positive. In half of the patients we will turn the pacemaker "on" and in the other half the pacemaker "off". The groups will swap over after six months. During this time we will assess the number of syncopal episodes. Also, in those who have a negative adenosine test we will implant a loop recorder to try to discover the cause of syncope.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
52
DDD+/-R pacing
ODO pacing
Loop recorder implantation
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Feeeman Hospital
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Syncope Burden
Syncope Burden as measured by number of syncopal episodes and recorded by weekly postal patient diaries with telephone reminders to ensure adequate return
Time frame: 12 months
Time to first syncope
Time to first syncope
Time frame: 12 months
Number of patients with recurrent syncope
Number of patients with \>1 episodes of syncope
Time frame: 12 months
Quality of life
Quality of life as measured via the condition-specific instrument the Impact of Syncope on Quality of Life questionnaire with general health-related quality of life measured via the WHOQoL-Brief and WHOQoL-Old instruments
Time frame: 12 months
Health economic analysis
Costs and benefits of the intervention to health and social services. (i) Use of EQ-5D questionnaire to establish the cost per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) (ii) The analysis will include the patients described above as well as a historical comparator group of consecutive patients derived from the database held by the Falls and Syncope Service who have not undergone adenosine testing. This group is particularly important to establish the utility of adenosine testing in the diagnosis of unexplained syncope.
Time frame: 12 months
ECG diagnosis on ILR following syncopal episode in adenosine negative group
ECG diagnosis on ILR following syncopal episode in intravenous adenosine test negative group
Time frame: 12 months
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