title: Syncope: Approaches to Diagnosis and Management.
abstract: Syncope is defined as a transient loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoperfusion followed by spontaneous recovery. Common causes of syncope include vasovagal syncope, situational syncope, orthostatic hypotension, carotid sinus hypersensitivity, left- and right-sided obstructive cardiac lesions, and cardiac arrhythmias. History and physical examination often provide valuable clues about the underlying etiology of syncope. Admission decisions in the emergency department can be guided by various risk prediction scores. Evaluation of a patient with syncope involves a large battery of diagnostic tests that include a 12-lead electrocardiogram, Holter monitoring, echocardiogram, tilt table testing, ischemia evaluation, electrophysiologic studies, and other imaging tests. Despite the availability of these advanced diagnostic tests, a significant proportion of patients with syncope remain undiagnosed. Therapy should be tailored based on the underlying etiology of syncope.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 2Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, PA.
authors.forename: Chandrasekar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palaniswamy
authors.forename: Wilbert S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Aronow
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Nivas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balasubramaniyam
authors.forename: Umashankar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lakshmanadoss
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018667:Tilt-Table Test