Recent Advances in Diagnosis of Autonomic Syncope

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Sponsored by:

Finapres Medical Systems
Date:
October 28, 2025
Time (PT):
11:00 AM
Duration (min):
60
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Join Dr. Michele Brignole and Dr. Jelle de Jong as they highlight the efficacy of the 2STEPS protocol and the six-step carotid sinus massage technique in diagnosing and managing autonomic syncope.

The new 2STEPS standardized diagnostic assessment for autonomic syncope: easy-to-apply, timesaving and highly efficientMichele Brignole, MDSenior Scientist, Cardiology,Istituto Auxologico Italiano

The standardized 2STEPS protocol offers an easy-to-perform and time-saving diagnostic work-up allowing identification of the haemodynamic mechanism of loss of consciousness in most patients with autonomic syncope.The two-step assessment includes 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and short cardiovascular autonomic function assessment (SCAFA). SCAFA consists of carotid sinus massage (CSM), performed in patients ≥40 years old, a passive standing test, and a ‘fast' head-up tilt test scheduled sequentially during one session on a tilt table This protocol provides the necessary background for a personalized mechanism-specific therapy.

Carotid sinus massage in patients with syncope - the six step method Jelle de Jong, MD, PhDDoctor of Cardiology,Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam

Carotid sinus massage is an important part of cardiovascular autonomic reflex testing in patients with unexplained syncope. Carotid sinus massage is indicated in all patients older than 40 presenting with syncope of unknown origin, and with a suspected (autonomic) reflex mechanism. However, carotid sinus massage is frequently omitted during the evaluation of syncope, or not performed properly. This presentation aims to guide physicians in the practical skill of carotid sinus massage using the six-step method.A boundary for physicians for performing carotid sinus massage is fear of ischemic stroke, based on studies before 2000. Studies performed since 2000 show a very low complication rate of 1 in 10,000 for transient ischemic attacks. Thus performing carotid sinus massage is safe and can guide in the treatment of patients with syncope.

Presenters

Michele Brignole

Istituto Auxologico Italiano (Cardiology)
Senior Scientist

Prof Michele Brignole, FESC, the former Director of the Cardiology Department at Ospedali del Tigullio, Lavagna, Italy, is currently the coordinator of the Faint & Fall programme at the IRCCS Istituto Auxologico, Milan, Italy.
It's main fields of research are diagnosis, pathophysiology, therapy of syncope and rhythm disturbances and catheter ablation of arrhythmias.

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Jelle de Jong

Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam (Cardiology)
Doctor

Jelle de Jong is a doctor currently in training for cardiology, with a particular interest in syncope since his masters in medicine. He has been conducting research on syncope for the past 10 years.

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Sponsor

Finapres Medical Systems

Finapres Medical Systems BV develops and distributes medical devices and software for totally non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring. These devices are the result of over 30 years of research and user-experiences in this area of ​​expertise.

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