title: Limited yield of hospitalization for the evaluation of syncope in patients presenting to an urban tertiary medical center.
abstract: Syncope is a frequent presenting complaint in the emergency department and is associated with significant medical costs. We examined the utility of inpatient evaluation of syncope for patients in whom a diagnosis was not established in the emergency department. We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients presenting with syncope to an urban tertiary care medical center. A diagnosis was not established after initial evaluation in the emergency department in 171 of 230 patients admitted. Inhospital evaluation led to a diagnosis in 26 patients. Acute intervention was required in 2 patients. Our observations suggest that an inpatient evaluation of syncope for patients in whom a diagnosis is not made on initial evaluation is of low yield, and outpatient follow-up may be safe.
authors: Arrhythmia Service, Department of Cardiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY 10467. Electronic address: emanheim@montefiore.org.
authors: Eric D
authors: ED
authors: Manheimer
authors: Arrhythmia Service, Department of Cardiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY 10467.
authors: Glenn
authors: G
authors: Pacio
authors: Arrhythmia Service, Department of Cardiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY 10467.
authors: Kevin J
authors: KJ
authors: Ferrick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult