Citation

Lee JS, Khan AD, Quinn CM, Colborn K, Patel DC, Barmparas G, Margulies DR, Waller CJ, Kallies KJ, Fitzsimmons AJ, Kothari SN, Raines AR, Mahnken H, Dunn J, Zier L, McIntyre RCJ, Urban S, Coleman JR, Campion EM, Burlew CC, Schroeppel TJ. Am. J. Surg. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.07.018

PMID

35940931

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients suspected of syncope frequently undergo laboratory and imaging studies to determine the etiology of the syncope. Variability exists in these workups across institutions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utilization and diagnostic yield of these workups and the patient characteristics associated with syncopal falls.

METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective review was performed on adult patients admitted after a fall between 1/2017-12/2018. Syncopal falls were compared to non-syncopal falls.

RESULTS: 4478 patients were included. There were 795 (18%) patients with a syncopal fall. Electrocardiogram, troponin, echocardiogram, CT angiography (CTA), and carotid ultrasound were more frequently tested in syncope patients compared to non-syncope patients. Syncope patients had higher rates of positive telemetry/Holter monitoring, CTAs, and electroencephalograms.

CONCLUSION: Patients who sustain syncopal falls frequently undergo diagnostic testing without a higher yield to determine the etiology of syncope.

Language: en