TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Diagnosis and Management of Syncope A1 - Goldberger, Zachary D. A1 - Ruzieh, Mohammed A1 - Grubb, Blair P. A2 - Fuster, Valentin A2 - Narula, Jagat A2 - Vaishnava, Prashant A2 - Leon, Martin B. A2 - Callans, David J. A2 - Rumsfeld, John S. A2 - Poppas, Athena PY - 2022 T2 - Fuster and Hurst's The Heart, 15e AB - Chapter SummaryThis chapter summarizes the pathophysiology, etiology, diagnosis, and management of syncope (see Fuster and Hurst’s Central illustration). Syncope is a common symptom, characterized by an abrupt, transient, and complete loss of consciousness, followed by spontaneous recovery. The incidence of syncope increases with age, with a lifetime prevalence of 40% and a recurrence rate of 14%. Given the myriad causes and protean manifestations of syncope, the diagnosis is often elusive, and the treatment will vary based on the underlying etiology. There are three main causes of syncope: cardiac (primarily due to arrhythmia or structural heart disease), neurocardiogenic (vasovagal syncope and carotid hypersensitivity), and orthostatic hypotension (dysautonomia, hypovolemia, and medication-induced). Cardiac syncope generally increases the risk of sudden cardiac death if left untreated, whereas neurocardiogenic and orthostatic causes usually follow a more benign course. Syncope, regardless of the cause, may impair quality of life and confer serious physical injury if not properly treated. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1202447851 ER -