title: The investigation of syncope.
abstract: Patients with syncope are usually referred to either neurology or cardiology clinics, yet the facilities for detailed syncope investigation are mostly in cardiac units. The diagnosis rests principally upon the history, but investigations may be required to support the clinical diagnosis. Close collaboration between the epilepsy clinician and a cardiologist is essential for effective investigation and safe management of syncope. It is frequently misdiagnosed and often erroneously treated as epilepsy. Furthermore, it is potentially a marker of sudden death when associated with certain cardiac disorders. Here we review the main syncope types and explore diagnostic approaches.
authors.affiliation: The Welsh Epilepsy Unit, Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK.
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hadjikoutis
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.forename: Philip E M
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D010808:Physical Examination; D013575:Syncope / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed