Clinical Approach to The Patient With Syncope

Description

There are several potential causes for syncope, but brief inadequacy of blood supply to the brain is the fundamental mechanism of loss of consciousness. The end outcome is a momentary disruption in brain activity that leads to unconsciousness and collapse. Syncope is distinct from other disorders that result in loss of consciousness because it is caused by a self-limited hemodynamic issue, such as an irregular heartbeat or a drop in blood pressure from another source. For the examination and treatment of syncope, a multidisciplinary approach is therefore likely to be most successful; the experience of cardiologists, neurologists, emergency medicine specialists, general practitioners, geriatricians, and other clinicians is frequently required. Unfortunately, each of these subspecialties tends to develop and employ its own language, methods, and management standards. This has confounded interactions between these diverse caretakers and increased the complexity of patient evaluation and treatment. This volume offers suggestions based on the standards and knowledge gained from the numerous subspecialties. It provides a full interdisciplinary overview of the topic. The best clinical therapeutic paths are reviewed before reviewing the scientific underpinnings of the various pathophysiologies of diseases that may induce syncope. The book then adopts a more practical stance in later sections, providing suggestions for using syncope treatment through case studies. The most popular procedures and tests are addressed along with their indications, methods, interpretation, and restrictions. This book has been created to meet the demands of the diverse medical professionals treating syncope patients. The emphasis placed on the significance of collecting medical histories will be beneficial to all disciplines. The focus on risk categorization will benefit internists and emergency department doctors. Current advice about the indications for and proper interpretation of invasive and noninvasive cardiac tests is available for cardiologists and cardiac electrophysiologists. The parts on the frequently challenging subject of differentiating real syncope from other significant diseases that may show as transitory loss of consciousness may be helpful to neurologists and psychiatrists.