Diagnostic Value of Test Tilt in Unexplained Syncope—A Heart Institute Abidjan

Justin Djinguin n’dri Ben Koffi

Institut de Cardiologie d’Abidjan, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1102060                

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.

Keywords

Tilt Test, Unexplained Syncope

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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