Right Ventricular Pressure, dP/dt, and Preejection Interval During Tilt Induced Vasovagal Syncope

This study examined the potential utility of monitoring right ventricular dP/dt as a means of detecting imminent vasovagal syncope. To assess this possibility, continuous right ventricular pressure measurements were recorded in nine patients during induction of syncope by head‐up tilt testing. Findings indicated that arterial pressure tended to fall prior to drop in heart rate. RV pressure exhibited a significant, but very small, fall during tilt. DP/dt max increased by 15–20% during tilt, then fell by a median of 30% from maximum value beginning aboutr 2 minutes prior to syncope. Thus, further investigation of dP/dt as a potential marker of impending vasovagal syncope is warranted.