How I treat vasovagal syncope in children

Run-Mei ZOU, Cheng WANG

Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ›› 2025, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (12) : 1457-1463.

PDF(818 KB)
HTML
PDF(818 KB)
HTML
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ›› 2025, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (12) : 1457-1463. DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2507129
HOW I TREAT

How I treat vasovagal syncope in children

Author information +
History +

Abstract

Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most common cause of neurally mediated syncope in children. Recurrent syncope severely affects physical and mental health and may lead to unintentional injury. Based on international and domestic guidelines and clinical practice experience, standardized recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric VVS are proposed. Management of VVS should be individualized, and non-pharmacological interventions, including lifestyle modifications, are the cornerstone for both classic and malignant VVS. Pharmacological therapy is recommended for children with VVS who have recurrent syncopal episodes, are at risk of trauma, or respond poorly to non-pharmacological interventions. For children in whom the head-up tilt test induces asystole, pacemaker implantation is not recommended as first-line therapy. In malignant VVS with recurrent syncope despite conventional treatment, pacemaker implantation may be considered after specialist evaluation. Data on cardioneuroablation in children are limited, and long-term follow-up is required.

Key words

Vasovagal syncope / Diagnosis / Treatment / Pacemaker implantation / Child

Cite this article

Download Citations
Run-Mei ZOU , Cheng WANG. How I treat vasovagal syncope in children[J]. Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics. 2025, 27(12): 1457-1463 https://doi.org/10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2507129

References

[1]
Kanjwal K, Calkins H. Syncope in children and adolescents[J]. Cardiol Clin, 2015, 33(3): 397-409. DOI: 10.1016/j.ccl.2015.04.008 .
[2]
Stewart JM, van Dijk JG, Balaji S, et al. A framework to simplify paediatric syncope diagnosis[J]. Eur J Pediatr, 2023, 182(11): 4771-4780. PMCID: PMC10640507. DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05114-w .
[3]
Hu E, Liu X, Chen Q, et al. Investigation on the incidence of syncope in children and adolescents aged 2-18 years in Changsha[J]. Front Pediatr, 2021, 9: 638394. PMCID: PMC8019745. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.638394 .
[4]
Shen WK, Sheldon RS, Benditt DG, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/HRS guideline for the evaluation and management of patients with syncope: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society[J]. Heart Rhythm, 2017, 14(8): e155-e217. DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2017.03.004 .
[5]
Sheldon RS, Grubb BP, Olshansky B, et al. 2015 Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of postural tachycardia syndrome, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, and vasovagal syncope[J]. Heart Rhythm, 2015, 12(6): e41-e63. PMCID: PMC5267948. DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.03.029 .
[6]
Tao C, Li X, Tang C, et al. Acceleration index predicts efficacy of orthostatic training on vasovagal syncope in children[J]. J Pediatr, 2019, 207: 54-58. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.10.063 .
[7]
Gu S, Wang S, Wang Y, et al. Prognosis value of blood pressure variability in children with vasoinhibitory type vasovagal syncope[J]. Indian J Pediatr, 2023, 90(4): 409-410. DOI: 10.1007/s12098-023-04505-z .
[8]
Chang L, Peng L, Liu J, et al. Predictive analysis of catecholamines and electrolytes for recurrence of orthostatic intolerance in children[J]. Front Pediatr, 2023, 11: 1220990. PMCID: PMC10495584. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1220990 .
[9]
中华医学会儿科学分会心血管学组, 《中华儿科杂志》编辑委员会, 北京医学会儿科学分会心血管学组, 等. 儿童血管迷走性晕厥及体位性心动过速综合征治疗专家共识[J]. 中华儿科杂志, 2018, 56(1): 6-9. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0578-1310.2018.01.003 .
[10]
Wen C, Wang S, Zou R, et al. Duration of treatment with oral rehydration salts for vasovagal syncope in children and adolescents[J]. Turk J Pediatr, 2020, 62(5): 820-825. DOI: 10.24953/turkjped.2020.05.014 .
[11]
Du X, Tao C, Wang Y, et al. Twenty-four-hour urinary sodium excretion predicts therapeutic effectiveness of oral rehydration saline in pediatric vasovagal syncope[J]. Children (Basel), 2022, 9(7): 992. PMCID: PMC9321383. DOI: 10.3390/children9070992 .
[12]
Chu W, Wang C, Wu L, et al. Oral rehydration salts: an effective choice for the treatment of children with vasovagal syncope[J]. Pediatr Cardiol, 2015, 36(4): 867-872. DOI: 10.1007/s00246-015-1097-5 .
[13]
Li W, Wang S, Liu X, et al. Assessment of efficacy of oral rehydration salts in children with neurally mediated syncope of different hemodynamic patterns[J]. J Child Neurol, 2019, 34(1): 5-10. DOI: 10.1177/0883073818803035 .
[14]
刘晓燕, 王成, 吴礼嘉, 等. 盐酸米多君对儿童血管迷走性晕厥的干预效果[J]. 中华医学杂志, 2009, 89(28): 1951-1954. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0376-2491.2009.28.004 .
[15]
陈丽, 杜军保, 张清友, 等. β受体阻滞剂治疗儿童自主神经介导性晕厥的多中心研究[J]. 中华儿科杂志, 2007, 45(12): 885-888. DOI: 10.3760/j.issn:0578-1310.2007.12.002 .
[16]
Tao C, Xu B, Liao Y, et al. Predictor of syncopal recurrence in children with vasovagal syncope treated with metoprolol[J]. Front Pediatr, 2022, 10: 870939. PMCID: PMC9024146. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.870939 .
[17]
Tao C, Li X, Tang C, et al. Baroreflex sensitivity predicts response to metoprolol in children with vasovagal syncope: a pilot study[J]. Front Neurosci, 2019, 13: 1329. PMCID: PMC6923178. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01329 .
[18]
Kong Q, Yang X, Cai Z, et al. Twenty-four-hour urine NE level as a predictor of the therapeutic response to metoprolol in children with recurrent vasovagal syncope[J]. Ir J Med Sci, 2019, 188(4): 1279-1287. DOI: 10.1007/s11845-019-01979-9 .
[19]
Cui Y, Zhang J, Wang Y, et al. Multivariate predictive model of the therapeutic effects of metoprolol in paediatric vasovagal syncope: a multi-centre study[J]. EBioMedicine, 2025, 113: 105595. PMCID: PMC11869975. DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.105595 .
[20]
Yi S, Kong YH, Kim SJ. Fludrocortisone in pediatric vasovagal syncope: a retrospective, single-center observational study[J]. J Clin Neurol, 2021, 17(1): 46-51. PMCID: PMC7840327. DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2021.17.1.46 .
[21]
Lenk M, Alehan D, Ozme S, et al. The role of serotonin re-uptake inhibitors in preventing recurrent unexplained childhood syncope: a preliminary report[J]. Eur J Pediatr, 1997, 156(10): 747-750. DOI: 10.1007/s004310050704 .
[22]
Du X, Tao C, Li X, et al. Predicting therapeutic efficacy of oral rehydration salts in children with vasovagal syncope[J]. Front Pediatr, 2023, 11: 1164304. PMCID: PMC10133722. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1164304 .
[23]
孙蕊, 康莹莹, 张明明, 等. 儿童恶性血管迷走性晕厥危险因素分析[J]. 中华儿科杂志, 2023, 61(2): 131-135. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112140-20221217-01052 .
[24]
Numan M, Alnajjar R, Lankford J, et al. Cardiac asystole during head up tilt (HUTT) in children and adolescents: is this benign physiology?[J]. Pediatr Cardiol, 2015, 36(1): 140-145. DOI: 10.1007/s00246-014-0977-4 .
[25]
Xu WR, Jin HF, Du JB, et al. Malignant vasovagal syncope in children[J]. World J Pediatr, 2025, 21(1): 41-47. DOI: 10.1007/s12519-024-00867-2 .
[26]
Sheldon R, Faris P, Tang A, et al. Midodrine for the prevention of vasovagal syncope: a randomized clinical trial[J]. Ann Intern Med, 2021, 174(10): 1349-1356. DOI: 10.7326/M20-5415 .
[27]
Paech C, Wagner F, Mensch S, et al. Cardiac pacing in cardioinhibitory syncope in children[J]. Congenit Heart Dis, 2018, 13(6): 1064-1068. DOI: 10.1111/chd.12682 .
[28]
Sanatani S, Chau V, Fournier A, et al. Canadian cardiovascular society and Canadian pediatric cardiology association position statement on the approach to syncope in the pediatric patient[J]. Can J Cardiol, 2017, 33(2): 189-198. DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2016.09.006 .
[29]
Brignole M, Moya A, de Lange FJ, et al. 2018 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope[J]. Eur Heart J, 2018, 39(21): 1883-1948. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy037 .
[30]
Wang C, Liao Y, Wang S, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of neurally mediated syncope in children and adolescents (revised 2024)[J]. World J Pediatr, 2024, 20(10): 983-1002. PMCID: PMC11502568. DOI: 10.1007/s12519-024-00819-w .
[31]
Pachon JC, Pachon EI, Pachon JC, et al. "Cardioneuroablation"- new treatment for neurocardiogenic syncope, functional AV block and sinus dysfunction using catheter RF-ablation[J]. Europace, 2005, 7(1): 1-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.eupc.2004.10.003 .
[32]
Li H, Shao W, Yu X, et al. Efficacy of catheter ablation in ganglionated plexus for malignant vasovagal syncope children[J]. Cardiol Young, 2024, 34(7): 1571-1576. DOI: 10.1017/S1047951124000659 .
[33]
Zou R, Wang S, Wen W, et al. Risk factors and prognostic follow-up of vasovagal syncope children with seizure-like activities during head-up tilt test induced-syncope[J]. Front Cardiovasc Med, 2022, 9: 916542. PMCID: PMC9226399. DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.916542 .

Footnotes

所有作者均声明无利益冲突。

PDF(818 KB)
HTML

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/