Transient Loss of Consciousness

Question 1

Is TLoC very common

Answer 1

Yes

Question 2

Index of suspicion

Answer 2

What is going on?
How has it happened?
(More going on than meets the eye)

Question 3

What are the 3 P’s?

Answer 3

Preserve
Prevent
Promote

Question 4

Is the diagnosis usually correct in TLoC?

Answer 4

No.
Substantial proportion of TLoC are initially diagnosed and treated for epilepsy when it is actually a cardiovascular problem

Question 5

What history taking would you take regarding before TLoC?

Answer 5

Circumstances
Posture
Prodromal symptoms (sweating, feeling warm/cold)

Question 6

What history taking would you take during TLoC?

Answer 6

Appearance (eyes open or shut
Colour
Movement (limb jerking and duration
Tongue biting
Injury 
Duration of TLoC

Question 7

What history taking would you take during recovery for TLoC?

Answer 7

Time to recover
Confusion
Weakness down one side

Question 8

What are red flags with TLoC?

Answer 8

Family history of sudden cardiac death in people aged younger than 40 years old and/or an inherited cardiac condition
Aged over 65 experiencing TLoC without prodromal symptoms
New or unexplained breathlessness
Heart failure
TLoC during exertion
A heart murmur

Question 9

What is the definition of TLoC

Answer 9

TLoC is a spontaneous loss of consciousness with complete recovery