Second Study on Cardio-neuromodulation in Humans

This is a phase II A prospective, interventional study. All patients will undergo CardNM. The study will involve eight different steps, from the screening procedure through study completion: screening, enrollment, pharmacological testing, group allocation, preprocedural assessment, procedure, follow-up, study completion.The dedicated study nurse and the PI are responsible for recording all data from the trial on the case report forms (CRFs) and completing the study database. A dedicated independent physician will be responsible for the safety monitoring. The PI will permit inspection of the trial files and the database by national or international official controlling scientific authorities, if required. The PI will review and monitor completed CRFs and the database at regular intervals throughout the trial.

Inclusion criteria

Candidates must meet all of the inclusion criteria required for inclusion in one of the two groups (summarized in Table 2). All of the patients need to have a positive P wave of > 0.5 mm in lead 2. Patients must have had ≥ 1 syncope during the 6 months preceding enrollment and ≥ 2 syncopes in their lifetime except if the last syncope was complicated by an injury or an accident, in which case further waiting for CardNM may be less desirable. Patients < 18 years must have least 3 syncopes with an interval exceeding 1 month unless 1 syncope was complicated by an injury or an accident.

If a significant rate drop (> 15%) is noted during head-up tilt test (HUT), either isolated or combined with vasoplegia, and associated with syncope or severe presyncope, patients will be eligible for inclusion in group A. If the HUT is negative and a pause > 3 seconds has been documented, patients will be assigned to group B. If both conditions are present, patients will be eligible for inclusion in either group but will be preferentially assigned to group A.

Exclusion criteria

Candidates will be excluded if ANY of the following criteria apply (detailed in Table 3):

• < 14 years of age;
• Inability to provide consent;
• Chronotropic negative medications (excepted in patients with a previous history of atrial fibrillation);
• 4 g amiodarone intake during the 2 months preceding enrollment;
• Alternating right bundle branch block (RBBB) and left bundle branch block (LBBB), HV interval > 70 ms;
• LBBB, bifascicular block (RBBB + left anterior hemiblock [LAHB], RBBB + left posterior hemiblock [LPHB]);
• PR interval permanently > 240 ms;
• Permanent AF, PAF or electrical cardioversion during the last 6 months;
• Valvular or subvalvular aortic stenosis, mitral stenosis;
• Any unstable medical condition, life expectancy < 12 months;
• Syncopes due a non-cardiac disease (excepted NMS) or advanced neuropathy;
• Current pregnancy;
• glaucoma.

Patients with transient atrioventricular conduction disturbances and normal atrioventricular conduction during an exercise test and normal QRS complexes are eligible for this study.

Patients with a high risk of bleeding are eligible, but clopidogrel (75 mg daily, 1 month of treatment) will then be preferred to oral anticoagulants.