Syncope resident survival guide
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Karol Gema Hernandez, M.D. [2]
Definition
This section provides a short and straight to the point definition of the disease or symptom in one sentence.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.
Common Causes
Management
Diagnostic Algorithm for Syncope
Determine if there was loss of consciousness (LOC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If yes: ❑ Rapid onset? ❑ Short duration? ❑ Spontaneous complete recovery? | If no: ❑ Cataplexy ❑ Drop attacks ❑ Falls ❑ Functional /psychogenic pseudosyncope ❑ TIA of carotid origin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If no to one or more of this questions; exclude the following before proceeding with syncope evaluation: ❑ Coma ❑ Aborted SCD ❑ Epilepsy ❑ Metabolic disorders: ♦ Hypoglycemia ♦ Hypoxia ♦ Hyperventilation with hypocapnia ❑ Intoxication ❑ Vertebrobasilar TIA | If yes: ❑ Transient LOC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non traumatic | Traumatic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
❑ Syncope ❑ Seizure ❑ Psychogenic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||