Syncope

Syncope has many possible causes, but the underlying mechanism of loss of consciousness is transient insufficiency ofblood-flow to the brain.The result is a temporary disturbance of brain function causing loss of consciousness and collapse. Byvirtue of its being due to a self-limited hemodynamic problem resulting for example from a heart rhythm problem, or a dropin blood pressure of other cause, syncope differs from other conditions that cause loss of consciousness. A multidisciplinaryapproach is likely to be most effective for the evaluation and treatment of syncope; often the expertise of cardiologists,neurologists, emergency medicine specialists, general practitioners, geriatricians and other clinicians is needed. The mostcommon procedures and tests are discussed along with their indications, methodology, interpretation, and limitations. Thisbook has been designed to fulfill the needs of the wide range of medical practitioners involved in the care of syncopepatients. All specialties will benefit from the concentration on the importance of medical history taking. Emergency roomphysicians and internists will be aided by the focus on risk stratification. Cardiologists and cardiac electrophysiologists willfind up-to-date recommendations regarding the indications for and appropriate interpretation of noninvasive and invasivecardiac testing. Neurologists and psychiatrists will find useful the sections exploring the often difficult topic of distinguishingtrue syncope from other important conditions that may present as transient loss of consciousness.