SynthesisPloS one2019
Physical manoeuvers as a preventive intervention to manage vasovagal syncope: A systematic review.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Singapore First Aid Guidelines 2026.Singapore medical journal · 2026Guideline
- Twenty-five years of research on syncope.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2023Article
- Counter pressure maneuvers for syncope prevention: A semi-systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimsTo summarize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of physical counterpressure manoeuvers (PCM) for vasovagal syncope management compared to a control intervention. Control interventions included either a PCM, no intervention, or other interventions feasible in a lay setting.
methodsA systematic literature search (March 21st 2018) was performed in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and Embase. PCM were subdivided into 1) PCM decreasing orthostatic load (PCMOL), 2) PCM shortening the hydrostatic column between heart and brain (PCMHC), 3) PCM using mechanical compression of the veins (PCMMC). The primary outcome was syncope, secondary outcomes included systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and total peripheral resistance (TPR). When possible, a random effects meta-analysis was performed. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for dichotomous outcomes, and mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated for continuous outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed by means of the I2 statistic. The total body of evidence was evaluated by means of the GRADE methodology.
resultsEleven trials involving 688 people with vasovagal syncope were included. Risk of bias was high in all included studies. The total body of evidence (GRADE) was considered to be low or very low. PCM were found to improve syncope as compared to control (OR: 0.52, 95% CI [0.33;0.81], p = 0.004). Similarly, before-and-after studies without a control group showed a significant reduction in syncope following PCM (OR: 0.01, 95%CI [0.00;0.01], p<0.001). No studies investigated PCMOL. PCMHC increased SBP, DBP, MAP, SV, and CO, and decreased HR. PCMMC increased SBP, DBP, and MAP.
conclusionPCM may reduce syncope and increase SBP, DBP, and MAP. The effects on other outcomes are less clear. Additional high-quality studies are needed.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.