ABSTRACT

Syncope is an important health problem, constituting 1%-5% of all emergency service admissions and up to 6% of all hospitalizations. Substantial experience with patient history and physical examination and time are required to diagnose syncope in patients presenting with transient loss of consciousness. In addition, only up to 50% of patients with syncope can be diagnosed with a final diagnosis, despite all efforts. Thus, management of syncope in emergency departments has shifted from reaching a final diagnosis and treatment to short-, moderate-, or long-term risk stratification systems, allowing decisions for outpatient management, including specialized branch care, or admission for further work-up. This review discusses the definition of syncope-related transient loss of consciousness, differential diagnosis of syncope, diagnostic methods and algorithms, and the main risk stratification studies. It also incorporates the recommendations of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) 2007 policy statement regarding patients with syncope.