title: Syncope as a symptom. A practical approach to etiologic diagnosis.
abstract: Etiologic diagnosis of syncope is best approached within the framework of three categories: cardiovascular, noncardiovascular, and unexplained. A meticulous history and physical examination plus screening laboratory studies will pinpoint a cause in nearly half of cases. In patients who have recurrent syncope, a history suggestive of dysrhythmia, or structural heart disease, further testing may include a variety of procedures such as 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring, two-dimensional echocardiography, exercise stress testing, and electrophysiologic testing.
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004452:Echocardiography; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005080:Exercise Test; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination; D012008:Recurrence; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy