Doctors in the Emergency Department at The Ottawa Hospital couldn’t explain why Jacinthe Bisson was having fainting spells, until a clinical study revealed she had a life–threatening heart condition.

In one year, the 51–year–old had three syncope, or fainting, episodes. But by the time she arrived at the hospital, she was fine and the doctors could not identify what had caused her to faint. Often syncope is brought on by dehydration, a drop in blood pressure, or an overactive nervous system. Bisson had none of these issues.

A small percentage of people with syncope suffer from serious medical conditions – arrhythmia. Often patients with unexplained syncope are monitored for few hours. However, if their heartbeat is normal during that time, their condition isn’t caught and they could be discharged only to go home and later die from an arrhythmia.

Bisson was an ideal candidate to take part in a clinical study led by scientist and emergency physician Dr. Venkatesh Thiruganasambandamoorthy, who is also a professor at the University of Ottawa.

“I wanted to find out what was going on with me. And I’m interested in science and research, so if I could participate, then maybe that research would help other people,” said Bisson.

She went home wearing a monitor round–the–clock for 15 days to keep track of her heart’s rhythm. On the seventh day, she felt lightheaded, hot and weak. The monitor captured a potentially life–threatening arrhythmia. Her cardiologist hospitalized her immediately and performed further testing, resulting in Bisson having a defibrillator inserted and being prescribed daily medication.

“I have not fainted since,” she said. “This monitor – this research – saved my life. I’m convinced of it.”

Each year, the Civic and General campuses see up to 1,500 fainting patients. Many of these patients are monitored in the Emergency Department for up to six hours. About 12 percent, though, are admitted and monitored for five to seven days. The average daily hospital stay costs about $1,400, which adds up to about $9,800 per patient.

“Whereas, wearing this monitor for 15 days will cost about $500 in total per patient,” said Dr. Thiruganasambandamoorthy. “And patients can be monitored at home rather than in the hospital.”

Dr. Thiruganasambandamoorthy’s study has monitored 20 patients outside the hospital since it began in October 2016. Three had life–threatening heart issues that were picked up by the monitor. Dr. Thiruganasambandamoorthy hopes that results from this study will demonstrate that monitoring high–risk syncope patients at home is the best way to treat them.