Vasovagal syncope

Question 1

Define vasovagal syncope

Answer 1

Syncope is a short term self terminating loss of consciousness

due to loss of blood to the brain (temporary)-often fall in BP

Neurally mediated syncopes-Vasovagal syncope is a type of that

can still be lethal (as they drop)

Question 2

Aetiology and Risk factors of vasovagal syncope

Answer 2

Most common cause of syncope
activation of vagus nerve causing bradycardia and peripheral vasodilation
often caused by pain, fear, standing too long
CANNOT OCCUR LYING DOWN

Risk factor-previous syncope
Prolonged standing
Pain, emotion (especially in warm/crowd)
Dehydration/hypovalema
having nausea and sweatiness before
having pain just before

Question 3

Signs and symptoms of vasovagal syncope

Answer 3

Usually want to exclude other causes of syncope (arrhythmia, heart issues, epilepsy)

Vasovagal-usually comes with palor, nausea, seating and closing in visual field
CANNOT OCCUR LYING DOWN
Hx of pain, emotion, standing up, dehydration, etc
can have brief clonic jerking of limb

Recovery is RAPID (~2mins) on the floor
(not as rapid as arrhythmia)

Question 4

Tests of vasovagal syncope

Answer 4

ECG-elimiate cardiac causes
Aneamia
Blood glucose
Echocardiogram

to rule out other blackout reasons (maybe think orthostatic hypotense)

Question 5

Epidemology vasovagal syncope

Answer 5

1% of visits to A&e -very common
common through out age-but more at 17-25

MOST COMMON CAUSE OF SYNCOPE/BLACKOUT
can still be lethal (as they drop)