I passed out: now what?: general approach to the patient with syncope.

Syncope is the transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by transient cerebral hypoperfusion. It is a common problem that is often alarming to patients and their families. The differential diagnosis of the patient with transient loss of consciousness is broad and workup may be expensive. It is important to identify patients with life-threatening conditions and those with red flags indicating an increased risk of sudden death. An initial approach consisting of a careful history, physical examination, and electrocardiograms is essential. This review covers the general diagnostic approach to the patient with syncope.