CONTEXT: Patients presenting with syncope to the emergency department (ED) of a community hospital were evaluated. AIM: The objective of this study is to examine the use and results of head computerized tomography (CT) scans in patients presenting with syncope to the ED of a community hospital. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A retrospective chart review of patients presenting with syncope to the emergency room was conducted. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed the charts of patients who presented to the ED over a 6-month period with syncope. When performed, head CT scan findings were noted, and their relationship to the clinical presentation was examined. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-eight patients were identified. Forty-four patients had their head CT scans performed. In 1 patient, the CT scan showed evidence of infarction in the posterior circulation. In 19 patients, the head CT scan was normal. Twenty-four patients had abnormal findings unrelated to the ED presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Head CT scans were commonly used in our series of syncope patients. Abnormal findings pertinent to the syncope were observed in only 1 patient. A prospective study examining yield in a larger series of patients may help define the utility of this neuroimaging modality in syncope.
CONTEXT: Patients presenting with syncope to the emergency department (ED) of a community hospital were evaluated. AIM: The objective of this study is to examine the use and results of head computerized tomography (CT) scans in patients presenting with syncope to the ED of a community hospital. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A retrospective chart review of patients presenting with syncope to the emergency room was conducted. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed the charts of patients who presented to the ED over a 6-month period with syncope. When performed, head CT scan findings were noted, and their relationship to the clinical presentation was examined. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-eight patients were identified. Forty-four patients had their head CT scans performed. In 1 patient, the CT scan showed evidence of infarction in the posterior circulation. In 19 patients, the head CT scan was normal. Twenty-four patients had abnormal findings unrelated to the ED presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Head CT scans were commonly used in our series of syncopepatients. Abnormal findings pertinent to the syncope were observed in only 1 patient. A prospective study examining yield in a larger series of patients may help define the utility of this neuroimaging modality in syncope.
Authors: R Bakshi; S Kamran; P R Kinkel; V E Bates; L L Mechtler; V Janardhan; S L Belani; W R Kinkel Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 1999-04 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Nikhil Goyal; Michael W Donnino; Ravi Vachhani; Ravi Bajwa; Tabassum Ahmad; Ronny Otero Journal: Intern Emerg Med Date: 2006 Impact factor: 3.397
Authors: S A Grossman; C Fischer; J L Bar; L A Lipsitz; L Mottley; K Sands; S Thompson; P Zimetbaum; N I Shapiro Journal: Intern Emerg Med Date: 2007-03-31 Impact factor: 3.397