Swallow syncope

Swallowing (or deglutition) syncope is an uncommon, vagally-mediated etiology for syncope that may be seen in children and adults. The mechanism of syncope involves afferent impulses from the upper gastrointestinal tract and efferent impulses to the heart that can produce a variety of bradyarrhythmi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMaryland medical journal (Baltimore, Md. : 1985) Vol. 48; no. 4; p. 151
Main Authors Farb, A, Valenti, S A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.1999
Subjects
Bradycardia - complications
Bradycardia - diagnosis
Bradycardia - physiopathology
Deglutition
Drinking - physiology
Eating - physiology
Electrocardiography
Heart Block - complications
Heart Block - diagnosis
Heart Block - physiopathology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Syncope, Vasovagal - diagnosis
Syncope, Vasovagal - etiology
Syncope, Vasovagal - physiopathology
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Summary:Swallowing (or deglutition) syncope is an uncommon, vagally-mediated etiology for syncope that may be seen in children and adults. The mechanism of syncope involves afferent impulses from the upper gastrointestinal tract and efferent impulses to the heart that can produce a variety of bradyarrhythmias with atrioventricular block. Two cases of swallow syncope are reported, one associated with drinking a cold carbonated beverage, and the other precipitated by eating a large bolus of food (which we have termed "Vaso-Bagel" syncope). In evaluating patients with syncope, a history of a temporal relationship to eating or drinking should be sought. While changes in eating habits may be effective in some cases, permanent pacemaker placement is often indicated and is curative.
ISSN:0886-0572