Can you share a real-life example of such a case?

A 52-year-old businessman collapsed suddenly while walking to his car. His ECG, echo, and blood tests were normal. Two days later, a Holter monitor detected intermittent heart rhythm pauses-he ultimately required a pacemaker.

If reports were normal, what was missed initially?

The problem was intermittent-it did not occur during routine testing but appeared later on prolonged monitoring.

What is the medical term for sudden collapse?

It is called syncope, a transient loss of consciousness due to reduced blood flow to the brain.

What are the main causes of syncope?

Cardiac (arrhythmias), Vasovagal (simple fainting), Orthostatic hypotension, Neurological causes

Why are cardiac causes particularly important?

Because they can be life-threatening and may lead to sudden cardiac arrest if not identified early.

Why do ECG and echo often fail to detect the problem

They provide only a brief snapshot. If the abnormal rhythm is not present at that moment, reports appear normal.

Author: Dr Jay Deshmukh

Dr Jay Deshmukh is Chief Physician and Director, Sunflower Hospital, Nagpur Honorary Physician to Honorable Governor of Maharashtra and PondicherryCentral. Dr Jay Deshmukh is an M.B.B.S., M.C.P.S., F.C.P.S., M.N.A.M.S., MD From Internal Medicine – Bombay and New Delhi.