Syncope: A Brief Review

Syncope can be described as the transient loss of consciousness due to decreased blood flow to the brain, also termed as pass out. Syncope may results from a sudden drop in blood pressure, reduced heart rate (bradycardia) or due to fluctuations in the blood volume. People are likely to become conscious and alert immediately after an episode of syncope or pass out but with little confusion. Depending on the etiology, syncope can be categorized into Vasovagal syncope (cardio-neuriogenic syncope), Situational syncope, Postural syncope, Neurological syncope and Metabolic syncope. Syncope and non-syncopal conditions, with real or apparent loss of consciousness, are often differentiated in most cases with an in depth clinical history, but this might sometimes be extremely difficult. In order to develop an effective mechanism?specific treatment, determining the mechanism of syncope is a prerequisite for advising the patients with regard to prognosis.