Medical Assessment: Syncope (v2)

Course overview

Syncope is a symptom, not a disease. It has many causes, some more serious than others. When treating a patient who has had a syncopal episode, it is very important that EMS providers obtain a detailed history of events from both bystanders and patient. Signs and symptoms of syncope often disappear before the patient arrives at the emergency room. Information EMS providers gather on-scene may reveal the cause of the syncopal episode and ultimately reduce morbidity and mortality. The underlying cause is determined 85 percent of the time, and 80 percent of those cases are related to a vasovagal/neurocardiogenic event.