OBJECTIVE: To assess the epidemiology of syncope coming to medical attention among unselected children referred to an emergency department in Western Europe. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed the cause of syncope and diagnostic workup of 226 consecutive pediatric patients seen in our emergency department because of a syncopal event. RESULTS: Neurocardiogenic syncope and neurologic disorders were the most common diagnoses (80% and 9%, respectively). Other causes included psychologic, cardiac, respiratory, toxicologic, and metabolic problems. The neurocardiogenic and disease-related syncopes were easily identified or suspected by history and physical examination. Electrocardiography was not performed in 132 cases (58%). Most patients with suspected neurocardiogenic syncope had an electroencephalogram, and 29% were admitted to the hospital. Cardiac disorders represented 5 cases (2%); 2 had been previously misdiagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: Syncope in children can result from a wide variety of causes. Consequently, an evaluation that fails to approach this problem in a goal-directed fashion proves to be very expensive, time-consuming, and frustrating to all concerned. Thorough history and physical examination are usually all that are necessary to guide practitioners in choosing the diagnostic tests that apply to a given patient.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the epidemiology of syncope coming to medical attention among unselected children referred to an emergency department in Western Europe. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed the cause of syncope and diagnostic workup of 226 consecutive pediatric patients seen in our emergency department because of a syncopal event. RESULTS:Neurocardiogenic syncope and neurologic disorders were the most common diagnoses (80% and 9%, respectively). Other causes included psychologic, cardiac, respiratory, toxicologic, and metabolic problems. The neurocardiogenic and disease-related syncopes were easily identified or suspected by history and physical examination. Electrocardiography was not performed in 132 cases (58%). Most patients with suspected neurocardiogenic syncope had an electroencephalogram, and 29% were admitted to the hospital. Cardiac disorders represented 5 cases (2%); 2 had been previously misdiagnosed. CONCLUSIONS:Syncope in children can result from a wide variety of causes. Consequently, an evaluation that fails to approach this problem in a goal-directed fashion proves to be very expensive, time-consuming, and frustrating to all concerned. Thorough history and physical examination are usually all that are necessary to guide practitioners in choosing the diagnostic tests that apply to a given patient.
Authors: Baris Guven; Taliha Oner; Vedide Tavli; Murat Muhtar Yilmazer; Savas Demirpence; Timur Mese Journal: World J Pediatr Date: 2012-12-29 Impact factor: 2.764
Authors: Juan Villafane; Jacob R Miller; Julie Glickstein; Jonathan N Johnson; Jonathan Wagner; Chris S Snyder; Tatiana Filina; Scott L Pomeroy; S Kristen Sexson-Tejtel; Caitlin Haxel; Jason Gottlieb; Pirooz Eghtesady; Devyani Chowdhury Journal: Pediatr Cardiol Date: 2021-01-02 Impact factor: 1.655