Usefulness of implantable loop recorder in a patient with syncope during bathing

A 27-year-old man presented to our hospital with a 1-year-hisory of repeated syncope, which particularly occurred while bathing or on a hot day. The head-up tilt test did not induce arrhythmia; however, blood pressure decreased by 39 mm Hg without any symptoms. Given that no bradycardia/tachycardia was induced on electrophysiological study and carotid sinus massage, an implantable loop recorder (ILR) was implanted. After 2 months, syncope again occurred during bathing at midnight. Sinus arrest and a maximum ventricular pause of 10.2 s were documented using the ILR. After pacemaker implantation, the patient had not experienced syncope for 14 months. (C) 2012 Japanese Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.