Syncope in the elderly: a pragmatic approach.
Carotid massage should be performed in elderly patients only if other diagnostic studies have not been helpful, since in rare instances, transient and permanent neurologic deficits have been precipitated by this maneuver. Patients with auscultatory findings of cardiovascular disease should certainly undergo further evaluation with appropriate studies such as echocardiography, stress testing, or cardiac catheterization.
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology; D002346:Carotid Sinus; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010808:Physical Examination; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis*