title: [Structured differential diagnosis of a transient impairment of consciousness].
abstract: Transient impairment of consciousness frequently prompts the patient to consult a neurologist or a cardiologist. Detailed medical history and physical examination allow to distinguish fainting from epileptic seizure, metabolic or psychogenic events. We report the history of an 83-year-old woman who presented a transient loss of consciousness.The vascular, investigation demonstrated a subocclusive stenosis of one of the internal carotid arteries. We shall consider the differential diagnosis of transient impairment of consciousness and discuss the relationship between fainting and carotid artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie, CHU de Liège.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mélon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Creemers
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moonen
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003663:Decision Trees; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010808:Physical Examination; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology