title: [Cardiogenic syncope].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiogenic syncope is a serious clinical event and the cause has to be clarified as rapidly and definitively as possible.
  
  
  METHODS
  With knowledge of the pathophysiological background the reason for syncope can mostly be clarified by taking a thorough medical history. In most cases a physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography can provide sufficient evidence for most of the causes. Rhythmogenic syncope, however, often tends to be extremely difficult to diagnose which is why many different instruments have been developed for the detection of changes in heart rhythm. Several drugs can induce syncope by different modes of action and is the reason why particular attention should always be paid to this aspect.
authors.affiliation: II. Medizinische Klinik, Städtisches Klinikum Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Friedrichstr.41, 01067, Dresden, Deutschland, gerk-ul@khdf.de.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gerk
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Machetanz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pabst
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schellong
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods*