TTaabbllee 7755 .. 11 CClliinniiccaall ffeeaattuurreess ssuuggggeessttiivvee ooff aa ssppeecciiffiicc ccaauussee ooff ssyynnccooppee
DDiiaaggnnoossttiicc ccoonnssiiddeerraattiioonn SSyymmppttoomm oorr ffiinnddiinngg
NNeeuurraallllyy mmeeddiiaatteedd
Carotid sinus syncope Syncope with head rotation
Vasovagal syncope After pain, unpleasant sight or
sound
Prolonged standing
Athlete after exertion
Situational Micturition, cough, swallow,
defecation
Orthostatic On standing
Post-prandial After meals
CCaarrddiiooggeenniicc
Structural heart disease – aortic Syncope on exertion
and mitral stenosis
Ischaemic heart disease
NNoonn--ccaarrddiioovvaassccuullaarr
Seizures Witness fitting
Cerebrovascular disease Associated with vertigo, dysarthria,
diplopia or other motor and sensory
symptoms of brain stem ischaemia
Subclavian steal Syncope with arm exercise
Modified from Kenny RA ed., Syncope in the older patient. Chapman and Hall
Medical 1996.