Sick Sinus Syndrome

Anila Khaliq, MD, John Bessada, Doctor of osteopathic and Tison Thomas, DO Reviewed 06/2022

BASICS

Sick sinus syndrome, also known as sinus node dysfunction (SND), is a disorder of the sinoatrial node caused by impaired pacemaker function and impulse transmission producing a constellation of...

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis of sinus node dysfunction can only be made when the symptoms directly correlate with the arrhythmias observed on cardiac monitoring.
When a patient presents with symptoms indica...

TREATMENT

Treatment for sick sinus syndrome revolves around symptom management and correcting reversible extrinsic factors.
For asymptomatic patients, treatment is not required.
If the patient is receiv...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Long- term follow up is required regardless of the patient’s pacemaker’s status.
Follow up should initially be targeted toward finding the underlying cause. If me...

REFERENCES

Nielsen JC, Thomsen PE, Højberg S, et al.; DANPACE Investigators. A comparison of single-lead atrial pacing with dual-chamber pacing in sick sinus syndrome. Eur Heart J. 2011;32(6):686–96....

ADDITIONAL READING

Dakkak W, Doukky R. Sick sinus syndrome. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.n...

CODES

CLINICAL PEARLS

Sick sinus syndrome or sinus node dysfunction is primarily a disease of the elderly population. It results from the degeneration of the SA node affecting its ability to generate or tra...

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