title: [Syncope unit: experience of a center using diagnostic flowcharts for syncope of uncertain etiology after initial assessment].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Syncope is a common symptom that leads to 1% of admissions to hospital emergency departments, and is associated with high costs to the health system. The cardiology department of Faro Hospital has had a syncope unit since July 2007. The aim of this study is to analyze its results in terms of etiological diagnosis and treatment of syncope, using diagnostic flowcharts based on European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study of all patients referred to the syncope unit of Faro Hospital between July 2007 and August 2011. We analyzed demographic data, characteristics of syncopal episodes, diagnostic methods, etiology of syncope and treatment. The percentages of syncope of cardiac and uncertain etiology were compared with data from other international syncope units. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 13.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 304 patients referred to the syncope unit for loss of consciousness, 245 (80.7%) had syncope. Most had reflex syncope (52.2%), 20% had cardiac syncope, 15.6% had orthostatic hypotension, and in 12% of cases etiology remained undetermined. The percentages of cardiac and uncertain etiology were similar to data published by other syncope units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Faro Hospital syncope unit obtained similar results to those published by other international syncope units through application of diagnostic flowcharts for etiological diagnosis of syncope. The flowcharts presented can be of value for the proper application of ESC guidelines on syncope.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Faro, E.P.E., Faro, Portugal. Peter_senado2002@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trigo
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amado
authors.forename: Salomé
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Candeias
authors.forename: Ilídio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Jesus
mesh_terms: D002309:Cardiology; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012985:Software Design; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Cardiogenic; Cardiogénica; Flowcharts; Incerta; Neurogenic; Neurogénica; Organigramas; Syncope; Síncope; Uncertain; Unidade; Unit