syncope

ACC: Guidelines for Evaluation and Treatment of Syncope

The American College of Cardiology has issued the first guidelines on the evaluation and management of syncope in adults and children.
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Some of the recommendations include:

  • A detailed history and physical examination of a patient with syncope should be performed to identify the prognosis, diagnosis, reversible or ameliorable factors, comorbidities, medication use, and patient and family needs.
  • For the initial evaluation of patients with syncope, a resting electrocardiogram (ECG) of 12-lead is useful and can provide information about potential causes of syncope episodes.
  • Hospital evaluation and treatment are recommended for patients with syncope who have serious medical conditions potentially related to the cause of syncope.
  • Blood tests might be useful for diagnosing and guiding therapies for patients with syncope identified through clinical assessment from history, physical examination, and ECG.
  • Guideline-directed management and therapy is recommended for patients with syncope associated with bradycardia and syncope associated with ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

In addition, the guidelines included recommendations for treating children, adults older than age 75 years, and anyone with clinical characteristics commonly associated with cardiac syncope.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Shen W-K, Sheldon RS, Benditt DG, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/HRS guideline for the evaluation and management of patients with syncope [published March 9, 2017]. J Am Coll Cardiol. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.03.003.