Implantable cardiac stimulation device with detection and therapy for patients with vasovagal syncope

摘要

A pacemaker or other implantable cardiac stimulation device is configured with both a rate hysteresis mode and a vasovagal syncope prevention mode. Within the rate hysteresis mode, the pacemaker detects when the intrinsic heart rate of the patient is below an escape rate, then paces the heart at a Base Rate until an intrinsic beat is detected. When programmed in the vasovagal syncope prevention mode, upon detecting the intrinsic rate falling below the Hysteresis Escape Rate, the pacemaker paces the heart at a Vasovagal Syncope Response Rate, which is considerably higher than the Base Rate. The pacemaker is preferably set to the syncope prevention mode for patients prone to recurrent vasovagal syncope. By pacing the heart at the higher Vasovagal Syncope Response Rate, the pacemaker thereby helps prevent a significant drop in blood pressure which might otherwise cause a loss of consciousness in the patient. System and method embodiments are described.