Carotid sinus denervation in the treatment of carotid sinus syndrome

The Carotid Sinus Syndrome (CSS) is a rare condition causes spontaneous syncopal attacks or marked dizziness. We studied 28 patients affected by CSS. Eleven patients affected by cardioinhibitory type were treated by pace-maker (PM) implant. Seventeen patients had mixed type and entered in this study. Carotid Sinus Denervation (CSD) was first performed in 2 of 10 patients who remained symptomatic after P.M. and in 6 patients as first choice therapy. At follow-up no patient submitted to CSD had recurrent syncope or dizziness. CSD is a safe and simple technique to abolish either the cardioinhibitory or the vasodepressor response in CSS.