Wegrakingen

Pure Amsterdam UMC

Abstract

Although transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) is a common problem, hospital care for patients with TLOC is characterised by high rates of no diagnosis and misdiagnosis, accompanied by unnecessary hospital admissions and tests. We attribute these problems to increasing specialisation as well as to a blind spot for vasovagal syncope, a condition not claimed by any specialty. We suggest that all doctors seeing patients with TLOC, both in primary and secondary care, should be familiar with the presentations of the relatively harmless vasovagal syncope and the alarm symptoms of potentially life-threatening cardiac syncope. In this article we present some practical pointers to recognise these conditions and answer some frequently-asked questions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of TLOC.

Authors 6

1. J Gert van Dijk Aachen

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   LUMC

2. Mark P. M. Harms

   University Medical Center Groningen

   Affiliation as printed

   UMCG

3. Frederik J. de Lange

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   ACS - Cardiomyopathy and Arrhythmia

   Affiliatie UvA

   Cardiology

4. J R Rutten

   Radboud University Nijmegen · Radboud University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Radboudumc 3D Lab, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

5. Roland D. Thijs Aachen

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   LUMC

6. Nathalie van der Velde

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   AMS - Ageing & Vitality

   APH - Aging & Later Life

   Affiliatie UvA

   Geriatrics