Syncope induced by wind instrument playing


This video shows a trumpet player who, immediately after playing a high pitched tone and releasing pressure, loses consciouness due to syncope. The trumpet player essentially performs a Valsalva manoeuvre. Prolonged straining which increases the intrathoracic pressure limits the venous return to the right ventricle and after releasing the pressure the arterial pressure drops rapidly and results in cerebral hypoperfusion.

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