Syncope
Template:TOC-right Syncope is a "transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by diminished blood flow to the brain (i.e., brain ischemia). Presyncope refers to the sensation of lightheadedness and loss of strength that precedes a syncopal event or accompanies an incomplete syncope."[1]
Etiology/cause
About 25% of patients have a cardiovascular cause, 15% are vasovagal and 10% are due to orthostasis.[2][3]
2% have a cerebrovascular cause.[2] Generally, this is consider when there is basilar artery or bilateral vertebral or bilateral carotid stenoses severe stenoses. However, there are case reports suggesting unilateral carotid stenoses can cause syncope.[4] However, it is not clear if these patients also had focal neurological symptoms.
2% are due to seizures.[2]
Vasovagal syncope (also called neurocardiogenic syncope, neurogenic syncope, or vasodepressor syncope is the cause of syncope in about 15% of patients.[2] Vasovagal syncope is "loss of consciousness due to a reduction in blood pressure that is associated with an increase in vagal tone and peripheral vasodilation".[5] Vasovagal syncope includes situational syncope which is syncope following cough, micturition, or defecation. Vasovagal syncope includes vasodepressor syncope which is syncope during fright or stress.
Diagnosis
Clinical practice guidelines are available to guide diagnosis.[6]
History and physical
An evaluation based on the initial history and physical examination will correctly diagnose the underlying cause in 63% of patients according to one case series.[7]
Having no warning symptoms suggests a cardiac arrhythmia.[8] Having more than one prodrome symptom (e.g. dizzines, nausea) is predictive of vasovagal and psychogenic syncope.[9]
Regarding the physical exam, testing or carotid sinus hypersensitivity may be best done with the patients standing.[10]
Testing
A p-wave longer than 120 ms on electrocardiogram is suggestive of a cardiac arrhythmia.[9]
Evaluation of the vertebral and carotid arteries with transcranial and carotid dopplers is mainly helpful if there are focal neurological findings.[11][12]
A clinical practice guideline by the American College of Physicians recommends "neurologic testing, including electroencephalography, computed tomography, and carotid and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, should be reserved for patients who have neurologic signs or symptoms or carotid bruits".[13]
Prognosis
| Cause of syncope | mortality rate[2] at 1 year |
sudden death rate[2] at 1 year |
mortality rate[3] at 5 years |
sudden death rate[3] at 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All cases | 14% | 34% | 14% | |
| Cardiac cause | 30% | 24% | 50% | 33% |
| Noncardiac | 12% | 4% | 30% | 5% |
| Unknown | 6% | 3% | 24% | 9% |
The San Francisco Syncope Rule (online) can predict the chance of serious events within seven days.[14] When internally validated, its sensitivity was 98%.[14] However, indpendent, external validations have yielded sensitivities of 89%[15] and 74%[16].
References
- ↑ Anonymous (2024), Syncope (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Kapoor WN, Karpf M, Wieand S, Peterson JR, Levey GS (July 1983). "A prospective evaluation and follow-up of patients with syncope". N. Engl. J. Med. 309 (4): 197–204. PMID 6866032. [e]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kapoor WN (May 1990). "Evaluation and outcome of patients with syncope". Medicine (Baltimore) 69 (3): 160–75. PMID 2189056. [e] [Full text from OVID]
- ↑ Kashiwazaki D, Kuroda S, Terasaka S, et al (January 2005). "[Carotid occlusive disease presenting with loss of consciousness]" (in Japanese). No Shinkei Geka 33 (1): 29–34. PMID 15678866. [e]
- ↑ Anonymous (2024), Vasovagal syncope (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ↑ Brignole M, Alboni P, Benditt DG, et al (November 2004). "Guidelines on management (diagnosis and treatment) of syncope-update 2004. Executive Summary". Eur. Heart J. 25 (22): 2054–72. DOI:10.1016/j.ehj.2004.09.004. PMID 15541843. Research Blogging.
- ↑ van Dijk N, Boer KR, Colman N, et al (2008). "High diagnostic yield and accuracy of history, physical examination, and ECG in patients with transient loss of consciousness in FAST: the Fainting Assessment study". J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 19 (1): 48–55. DOI:10.1111/j.1540-8167.2007.00984.x. PMID 17916139. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Krahn AD, Klein GJ, Yee R, Skanes AC (May 2001). "Predictive value of presyncope in patients monitored for assessment of syncope". Am. Heart J. 141 (5): 817–21. DOI:10.1067/mhj.2001.114196. PMID 11320372. Research Blogging.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Graf D, Schlaepfer J, Gollut E, et al (2008). "Predictive models of syncope causes in an outpatient clinic". Int. J. Cardiol. 123 (3): 249–56. DOI:10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.12.007. PMID 17397948. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Parry SW, Richardson DA, O'Shea D, Sen B, Kenny RA (2000). "Diagnosis of carotid sinus hypersensitivity in older adults: carotid sinus massage in the upright position is essential". Heart 83 (1): 22–3. PMID 10618329. [e]
- ↑ Schnipper JL, Ackerman RH, Krier JB, Honour M (April 2005). "Diagnostic yield and utility of neurovascular ultrasonography in the evaluation of patients with syncope". Mayo Clin. Proc. 80 (4): 480–8. PMID 15819284. [e]
- ↑ Pires LA, Ganji JR, Jarandila R, Steele R (2001). "Diagnostic patterns and temporal trends in the evaluation of adult patients hospitalized with syncope". Arch. Intern. Med. 161 (15): 1889–95. PMID 11493131. [e]
- ↑ Linzer M, Yang EH, Estes NA, Wang P, Vorperian VR, Kapoor WN (June 1997). "Diagnosing syncope. Part 1: Value of history, physical examination, and electrocardiography. Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project of the American College of Physicians". Ann. Intern. Med. 126 (12): 989–96. PMID 9182479. [e]
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Quinn J, McDermott D, Stiell I, Kohn M, Wells G (May 2006). "Prospective validation of the San Francisco Syncope Rule to predict patients with serious outcomes". Ann Emerg Med 47 (5): 448–54. DOI:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2005.11.019. PMID 16631985. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Sun BC, Mangione CM, Merchant G, et al (April 2007). "External validation of the San Francisco Syncope Rule". Ann Emerg Med 49 (4): 420–7, 427.e1–4. DOI:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2006.11.012. PMID 17210201. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Birnbaum A, Esses D, Bijur P, Wollowitz A, Gallagher EJ (February 2008). "Failure to Validate the San Francisco Syncope Rule in an Independent Emergency Department Population". Ann Emerg Med. DOI:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2007.12.007. PMID 18282636. Research Blogging.