title: [Syncope--incidence, diagnosis and differential diagnosis].
abstract: Syncopes are not rare at all. They are seen in 0.75% of patients of an outpatient department of internal medicine, and 0.03% of blood donors have syncopes. In the Framingham study, in the course of 26 years 3 to 3.6% of the population had syncopes. The diagnosis can be made just by careful questioning and the usual physical examination of the patient. In spite of thorough examination, the cause of the syncope cannot be determined in 25 to 85% of cases. Among those carefully analysed, 5 to 15% are due to a primary cerebral cause and 15 bis 40% are due to a cardiovascular problem. Of course selection of patients following the institution which made these studies play an important role. We conclude that the careful questioning of the patient and, if possible, of witnesses of the syncope represents the most important element for diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Neurologie FMH, Inselspital, Bern.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mumenthaler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010808:Physical Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
vernacular_title: Die Synkopen--Häufigkeit, Diagnostik und Differentialdiagnostik.