Syncope

Publisher Summary This chapter reveals that syncope is a transient, selflimited loss of consciousness caused by acute impairment of cerebral blood flow. There are a number of neurological and cardiac causes of syncope. The clinical presentation of syncope depends largely on the underlying cause. The first important issue is to differentiate syncope from other conditions like seizures and hypoglycemia associated with real or apparent transient loss of consciousness. The initial evaluation of a patient with transient loss of consciousness includes a detailed history, a thorough physical examination, and an electrocardiogram. This leads to a diagnosis in approximately 50% of the patients. If no diagnosis has been established during the initial evaluation, additional steps to be considered are assessment of underlying structural heart disease and testing for arrhythmias. The principles of management of patients with syncope are based on the pathophysiological knowledge of the diverse causes of transient loss of consciousness.