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Sinus pause in a middle aged woman: a reminder not to overlook cardiac cause of syncope

Linx Alexander ARANGO-SCHMITT, Bárbara OLIVÁN-BLÁZQUEZ, Angela ASENSIO-MARTÍNEZ, Alejandra AGUILAR-LATORRE, Sandra LEÓN-HERRERA, Carmen VICENTE-GARCÍA, Rosa MAGALLÓN-BOTAYA, María Del Mar MARTÍNEZ-PECHARROMÁN and Alba GALLEGO-ROYO

Syncope is a brief and sudden loss of consciousness associated with loss of postural tone with spontaneous recovery. It remains a challenging presentation to primary care. Both cardiac and autonomic causes can lead to syncope. Important differential diagnoses include seizure, migraine, hypoglycemia, toxin exposure, functional disorder and nacrolepsy. In younger adults, it is often attributed to benign autonomic causes. However, life-threatening cardiac conditions may be missed, particularly in primary care where initial presentations are nonspecific. Keywords: syncope; sinus pause; Holter monitor; younger adult; primary careI'm presenting a case of syncope to highlight the importance of maintaining clinical vigilance for cardiac conduction disorders in middle aged patients without typical risk factors.I will describe a clinical case and quality improvement review from a primary care–hospital collaboration. A previously healthy middle aged woman presented with recurrent syncopal episodes over one week. Initial evaluations, including clinical examinations, routine ECG, blood work, respiratory viral swab PCR, CT head, CT carotid angiogram (Circle of Willis), were unremarkable. Owing to persistence of symptoms, a 24-hour Holter monitor was arranged through primary care.24-hour Holter monitoring revealed total of five sinus pauses ranging from 2.0-4.3 seconds with the longest pause of up to 9 seconds. The patient underwent urgent cardiology assessment and permanent pacemaker implantation at a private hospital, with complete resolution of syncopal episodes.Even in younger patients, cardiac conduction disorders such as sinus pause should remain an important differential diagnosis for recurrent syncopes.Early use of Holter monitoring in primary care can be lifesaving and improve diagnostic efficiency through timely referral.