The management of vasovagal syncope

摘要

Syncope, defined as transient loss of consciousness with loss of postural tone but with spontaneous recovery, accounts for 3/100 of Accident and Emergency attendances and 1/100 to 6/100 of hospital Admissions annually, and has a prevalence of up to 23/100 in the institutionalized eldelry. In last month's review, we described the head-up tilt-table test and its use in the diagnosis of the vasovagal syndrome, the commonest cause of syncope. This article aims to provide an overview of the management of the vasovagal syndrome, on the basis of current evidence and our experience in this field. Throughout the article, the terms 'vasovagal syncope' and 'vasovagal syndrome' will be used interchangeably.