A Novel Method for Detecting, Predicting and Treating Syncope

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A Novel Method for Detecting, Predicting and Treating Syncope

• IRAS ID

  292087

• Contact name

  Daniel Keene

• Contact email

  d.keene@imperial.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial College London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Over 25% of people experience fainting. A third suffer frequent disabling episodes causing physical injury, and psychological morbidity. In some, the sole cause is slow heart rates which can be remedied with a pacemaker. However, in over half of patients, the main cause is a fall in blood pressure caused by redistribution of blood within the body.
  
  We believe, when redistribution of blood occurs, causing fainting, a large volume of blood leaves the systemic circulation and moves into abdominal (splanchnic) blood vessels.

  The ability to accurately detect pooling of blood in the splanchnic circulation will allow us to identify the underlying mechanism for fainting in patients, and to also begin developing a diagnostic sensor which could potentially detect the changes occurring prior to fainting.

  In the future if splanchnic pooling is seen to be the cause of fainting episodes, and if impending fainting can also be detected through our sensor, this could be used in the future to trigger a therapeutic intervention within a future treatment device.

  We will test whether:
  Splanchnic pooling can be detected using external sensors that could be built into a diagnostic device.

  We will record measurements through external sensors in patients undergoing:
  a. cardiac procedures

  We will deliver electrical stimulation to the splanchnic nerves in patients undergoing:
  a. cardiac procedures which involve venous access through which the splanchnic nerves can be stimulated (via the azygous and intercostal veins)
  b. hepatobiliary procedures where there is direct visualisation of the splanchnic circulation and nervous system peri-operatively

  All protocols will be conducted at a tertiary cardiology and hepatobiliary centre. The study will run over six months.

  Our results should lead to funding to develop this novel approach as a therapeutic pathway for thousands of patients whose lives are severely limited by unpredictable fainting.
  

• REC name

  South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/SW/0160

• Date of REC Opinion

  20 Feb 2023

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion