TITLE:
Diagnostic Value of Test Tilt in Unexplained Syncope—A Heart Institute Abidjan
AUTHORS:
Justin Djinguin n’dri Ben Koffi
KEYWORDS:
Tilt Test, Unexplained Syncope
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.2 No.11,
November
23,
2015
ABSTRACT: Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic contribution of tilt
testing in the assessment of unexplained syncope. Patients and Methods: All
patients who had a tilt test at Abidjan Heart Institute between October 2014
and May 2015 (a period of eight months) were included and followed in this
study. During the monitoring period, patients were interviewed in consultation
and examination room. Results: A tilt test
was performed in 60 patients with mean age of 45 ± 20 years, with a sex
ratio of a man for a woman referred to our service for exploration of
unexplained syncope. The tilt in dorsal decubitus test was negative in all
patients. In inclined position the test was positive in 10 patients (17%), and then
in inclined position with instillation of glyceryl trinitrate the test was
positive in 35 patients (58%). The tilt test was positive in 45 patients or
75%. The responses were observed vaso-depressive response in 22 patients, a
mixed response in 8 patients, and cardio-inhibitory response in 15 patients.
After three months follow-up, through lifestyle changes, through recognition of
early symptoms, regular rehydration by the eviction of confined atmospheres,
and the reduction of antihypertensive treatment, adoption of the dorsal
decubitus or position sitting at the onset of symptoms, 95% of patients had not
presented any recurrence of symptoms. The incidence of recurrence was the same
regardless of the type of response to the tilt test. Conclusion: The tilt test
is easily achievable but disregarded under review and used in our health
centers. It has some diagnostic value in exploring the unexplained syncope. The
syncope recurrence rate after a tilt test is very low.