title: Recognizing life-threatening causes of syncope.
abstract: While the overall prognosis of syncope is favorable, the identification of individuals with a potentially life-threatening cause is of paramount importance. Cardiac syncope is associated with an elevated risk of mortality, and includes both primary arrhythmic and obstructive etiologies. Identification of these individuals is contingent on careful clinical assessment and judicious use of diagnostic investigations. This article focuses on life-threatening causes of syncope and a diagnostic approach to facilitate their identification.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Clarence
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: Santabhanu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arbour
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Krahn
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications; D016638:Critical Illness; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology