Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Indications, contraindications, and step-by-step methodology for performing carotid sinus massage in patients presenting with syncope : A scientific statement of an Ad Hoc Syncope Consortium endorsed by: the European Autonomic Society (EFAS), Gruppo Italiano Multidisciplinare Syncope (GIMSI) and European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS)

de Lange, Frederik J ; Brignole, Michele ; Benditt, David G ; Dani, Melani ; Deharo, Jean Claude ; Fanciulli, Alessandra ; Fedorowski, Artur LU orcid ; Groppelli, Antonella ; Hamdan, Mohamed H and Hamrefors, Viktor LU orcid , et al. (2026) In Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society 36(4). p.485-497
Abstract

Carotid sinus massage (CSM) is essential in evaluating recurrent unexplained reflex syncope, as it uniquely identifies cardioinhibitory forms that other tests may miss. CSM is largely underused in clinical practice outside dedicated syncope facilities and, when performed, its execution varies, as does the interpretation of results. Underuse affects the diagnostic yield of CSM in the syncope evaluation, thereby denying patients mechanism-based personalized treatment. There are several barriers to the proper use of CSM in the work-up of patients with unexplained syncope.To address these important limitations, an international panel of experts in the field of syncope provide herein a consensus document with the aim of offering practical... (More)

Carotid sinus massage (CSM) is essential in evaluating recurrent unexplained reflex syncope, as it uniquely identifies cardioinhibitory forms that other tests may miss. CSM is largely underused in clinical practice outside dedicated syncope facilities and, when performed, its execution varies, as does the interpretation of results. Underuse affects the diagnostic yield of CSM in the syncope evaluation, thereby denying patients mechanism-based personalized treatment. There are several barriers to the proper use of CSM in the work-up of patients with unexplained syncope.To address these important limitations, an international panel of experts in the field of syncope provide herein a consensus document with the aim of offering practical guidance for the indications, contraindications, and methodology for performing carotid sinus massage in general and dedicated syncope facilities and in the emergency department.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and , et al. (More)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and (Less)
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society
volume
36
issue
4
pages
485 - 497
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:105040059690
  • pmid:42204029
ISSN
0959-9851
DOI
10.1007/s10286-026-01218-z
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2026. The Author(s).
id
2a4654f4-b0d4-4c86-a95f-c0d30c5bb34e
date added to LUP
2026-06-01 16:52:07
date last changed
2026-09-27 10:25:05
@article{2a4654f4-b0d4-4c86-a95f-c0d30c5bb34e,
  abstract     = {{<p>Carotid sinus massage (CSM) is essential in evaluating recurrent unexplained reflex syncope, as it uniquely identifies cardioinhibitory forms that other tests may miss. CSM is largely underused in clinical practice outside dedicated syncope facilities and, when performed, its execution varies, as does the interpretation of results. Underuse affects the diagnostic yield of CSM in the syncope evaluation, thereby denying patients mechanism-based personalized treatment. There are several barriers to the proper use of CSM in the work-up of patients with unexplained syncope.To address these important limitations, an international panel of experts in the field of syncope provide herein a consensus document with the aim of offering practical guidance for the indications, contraindications, and methodology for performing carotid sinus massage in general and dedicated syncope facilities and in the emergency department.</p>}},
  author       = {{de Lange, Frederik J and Brignole, Michele and Benditt, David G and Dani, Melani and Deharo, Jean Claude and Fanciulli, Alessandra and Fedorowski, Artur and Groppelli, Antonella and Hamdan, Mohamed H and Hamrefors, Viktor and de Jong, Jelle S Y and Kenny, Rose Anne and Kulakowski, Piotr and Moya, Angel and Maggi, Roberto and Morillo, Carlos A and Olshansky, Brian and Raj, Satish R and Rice, Ciara and Rivasi, Giulia and van Rossum, Ineke and Russo, Vincenzo and Sheldon, Robert and Shen, Win-Kuan and Sutton, Richard and Thijs, Roland and Taraborrelli, Patricia and Tomaino, Marco and Ungar, Andrea and van Zanten, Steven}},
  issn         = {{0959-9851}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{485--497}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society}},
  title        = {{Indications, contraindications, and step-by-step methodology for performing carotid sinus massage in patients presenting with syncope : A scientific statement of an Ad Hoc Syncope Consortium endorsed by: the European Autonomic Society (EFAS), Gruppo Italiano Multidisciplinare Syncope (GIMSI) and European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10286-026-01218-z}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10286-026-01218-z}},
  volume       = {{36}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}