Abstract
The most important step in evaluating a patient with syncope/collapse is detailed history and careful physical examination. The utility of head imaging in patients with syncope is low and carotid ultrasound (CUS), brain computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance image (MRI) should only be performed when there is a high suspicion for neurological disorders such as carotid stenosis, brain tumors, or parkinsonism. Similarly, echocardiography should be done only to confirm or refute suspected structural heart disease such as severe aortic stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, or obstructive cardiac tumors. Finally, cardiac stress testing (i.e., using treadmill or stationary bike) should be performed if syncope occurs during or right after exercise.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sheldon RS, Grubb BP, Olshansky B, Shen W-K, Calkins H, Brignole M, et al. 2015 Heart Rhythm Society Expert Consensus Statement on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, and Vasovagal Syncope. Heart Rhythm. 2015;12(6):e41–63.
Pournazari P, Oqab Z, Sheldon R. Diagnostic value of neurological studies in diagnosing syncope: a systematic review. Can J Cardiol. 2017;33(12):1604–10.
Shen W-K, Sheldon RS, Benditt DG, Cohen MI, Forman DE, Goldberger ZD, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Patients with Syncope. A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. Circulation. 2017;70(5):e39–e110.
Brignole M, Moya A, De Lange FJ, Deharo J-C, Elliott PM, Fanciulli A, et al. 2018 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope. Eur Heart J. 2018;39(21):1883–948.
Soteriades ES, Evans JC, Larson MG, Chen MH, Chen L, Benjamin EJ, et al. Incidence and Prognosis of Syncope. N Engl J Med. 2002;347(12):878–85.
Sarasin FP, Junod A-F, Carballo D, Slama S, Unger P-F, Louis-Simonet M. Role of echocardiography in the evaluation of syncope: a prospective study. Heart. 2002;88(4):363–7.
Wissocq L, Ennezat PV, Mouquet F. Exercise-induced high-degree atrioventricular block. Arch Cardiovasc Dis. 2009;102(10):733–5.
Bharati S, Dhingra RC, Lev M, Towne WD, Rahimtoola SH, Rosen KM. Conduction system in a patient with Prinzmetal's angina and transient atrioventricular block. Am J Cardiol. 1977;39(1):120–5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ruzieh, M., Grubb, B.P. (2020). Role of Head and Cardiac Imaging, and Cardiac Stress Testing for Syncope. In: Brignole, M., Benditt, D. (eds) Syncope. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44507-2_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44507-2_18
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-44506-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-44507-2
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)