Syncope in the emergency department of a large northern Italian hospital: incidence, efficacy of a short-stay observation ward and validation of the OESIL risk score.
OBJECTIVE
Syncope causes 1-3% of all emergency department (ED) visits, a high percentage of hospitalisations and prolonged hospital stay; nevertheless, many cases remain unexplained.


METHODS
This study analysed the incidence of syncope at the ED of the University Hospital of Parma in the first half of 2008; then a sample of 200 patients admitted later for syncope into the ED ward was studied, in order to evaluate the efficacy of a brief observation unit and to validate the Osservatorio Epidemiologico della Sincope nel Lazio (OESIL) risk score as a tool to identify cardiogenic syncopes.


CONCLUSIONS
As reported in the literature, syncope accounts for 2.3% of ED consultations and for 4.2% of total hospital admissions. A brief observation ward in the ED seems to have the necessary characteristics for managing most cases of syncope quickly (3.5 days). The final diagnosis was certain in 60%, suspected in 33% and unexplained in 7% of patients. The commonest forms of syncope were non-cardiogenic. Factors associated with cardiogenic syncope were previous syncopal events, lack of prodromal symptoms and a high OESIL risk score.
Emergency Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy. ffilo@libero.it
Filippo
F
Numeroso
Gianluigi
G
Mossini
Eleonora
E
Spaggiari
Gianfranco
G
Cervellin
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology