title: Presyncope and syncope. How to find the cause and avoid staggering costs.
abstract: Presyncope and syncope are relatively common in the primary care population, but episodes may signal serious metabolic, neurologic, or cardiovascular disease. Accurate diagnosis is important, because treatment must be directed to the underlying cause. The cost of a full evaluation can be staggering; therefore, a goal-oriented approach to diagnosis is most productive and cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College, Georgia Hospital and Clinics, Augusta.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: von Dohlen
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D013575:Syncope / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy