HEAD-UP TILT TEST (HUTT) IN PATIENTS WITH EPISODIC BRADYCARDIA AND HYPOTENSION FOLLOWING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTIONS

We investigated the possible association of post catheterization hypot ension/bradycardia and neurocardiogenic syncope. Head up tilt test (HU TT) was performed in 12 consecutive patients (age 32-65 years) who dev eloped transient hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 80 mmHg) and/o r bradycardia (heart rate < 50/min) with or without syncope following a percutaneous coronary intervention. Ten patients had undergone percu taneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with stent implantati on and one each PTCA alone and diagnostic coronary angiography. This e vent occurred at the time of sheath removal in 7 patients (58%). HUTT was performed with and without intravenous edrophonium (10 mg intraven ous). The tilt test was negative in all patients. Post-catheterization hypotension/bradycardia responds promptly to conservative measures an d it is unclear whether this is related to neurocardiogenic syncope.