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Stewart JM, van Dijk JG, Balaji S, Sutton R. A framework to simplify paediatric syncope diagnosis. Eur J Pediatr 2023; 182:4771-4780. [PMID: 37470792 PMCID: PMC10640507 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05114-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
This paper aims to improve the diagnosis of syncope and transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) in children. Diagnostic problems stem, first, from some causes spanning various disciplines, e.g. cardiology, neurology and psychiatry, while the most common cause, vasovagal syncope, is not embraced by any specialty. Second, clinical variability is huge with overlapping signs and symptoms. Third, the approach to TLOC/syncope of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) is underused in childcare. We explain the ESC guidelines using an additional paediatric literature review. Classification of TLOC and syncope is hierarchic and based on history taking. Loss of consciousness (LOC) is defined using three features: abnormal motor control including falling, reduced responsiveness and amnesia. Adding a < 5 min duration and spontaneous recovery defines TLOC. TLOC simplifies diagnosis by excluding long LOC (e.g. some trauma, intoxications and hypoglycaemia) and focussing on syncope, tonic-clonic seizures and functional TLOC. Syncope, i.e. TLOC due to cerebral hypoperfusion, is divided into reflex syncope (mostly vasovagal), orthostatic hypotension (mostly initial orthostatic hypotension in adolescents) and cardiac syncope (arrhythmias and structural cardiac disorders). The initial investigation comprises history taking, physical examination and ECG; the value of orthostatic blood pressure measurement is unproven in children but probably low. When this fails to yield a diagnosis, cardiac risk factors are assessed; important clues are supine syncope, syncope during exercise, early death in relatives and ECG abnormalities. Conclusions: In adults, the application of the ESC guidelines reduced the number of absent diagnoses and costs; we hope this also holds for children. What is Known: • Syncope and its mimics are very common in childhood, as they are at other ages. • Syncope and its mimics provide considerable diagnostic challenges. What is New: • Application of the hierarchic framework of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) simplifies diagnosis. • The framework stresses history-taking to diagnose common conditions while keeping an eye on cardiac danger signs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J Gert van Dijk
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Richard Sutton
- Department of Cardiology, National Heart & Lung Institute, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College, London, UK
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Beneki E, Dimitriadis K, Tsatiris K, Aggeli K, Tsioufis K. Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis in a Patient Presenting with Epileptic Seizure: A "Double-edged Sword". INNOVATIONS IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 20:9-11. [PMID: 38193099 PMCID: PMC10773597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) is a common presentation to emergency departments and may be due to syncope or epileptic seizures. The distinction between both entities can be challenging. This case illustrates the need for a multidisciplinary team approach in TLOC to avoid misdiagnosis leading to improper treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Beneki
- Drs. Beneki, Dimitriadis, Aggeli, and Tsioufis are with First Cardiology Department, School of Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Athens, Greece
| | - Kyriakos Dimitriadis
- Drs. Beneki, Dimitriadis, Aggeli, and Tsioufis are with First Cardiology Department, School of Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Tsatiris
- Dr. Tsatiris is with Department of Cardiology, Karditsa General Hospital in Karditsa, Greece
| | - Konstantina Aggeli
- Drs. Beneki, Dimitriadis, Aggeli, and Tsioufis are with First Cardiology Department, School of Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Tsioufis
- Drs. Beneki, Dimitriadis, Aggeli, and Tsioufis are with First Cardiology Department, School of Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Athens, Greece
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Matthews L, Kurukumbi M. Reflex Anoxic Seizures Induced by Needle Stick and Successfully Treated With Intranasal Midazolam. Cureus 2021; 13:e18002. [PMID: 34667678 PMCID: PMC8519667 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.18002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Reflex anoxic seizures are a type of convulsive syncope seen more commonly in children. In rare cases, they may develop into true epileptic seizures. There is no current consensus on treatment. In this case report, we present an adult patient with reflex anoxic seizures, along with EEG monitoring from an event. Our patient had a successful trial with intranasal midazolam preventing the episode, suggesting that anxiety played a significant role in her case. Reflex anoxic seizures in adults are rare and need to be properly identified, as treatment can lead to significant improvements in patient quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lani Matthews
- Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, USA
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Villafane J, Miller JR, Glickstein J, Johnson JN, Wagner J, Snyder CS, Filina T, Pomeroy SL, Sexson-Tejtel SK, Haxel C, Gottlieb J, Eghtesady P, Chowdhury D. Loss of Consciousness in the Young Child. Pediatr Cardiol 2021; 42:234-254. [PMID: 33388850 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-020-02498-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In the very young child (less than eight years of age), transient loss of consciousness represents a diagnostic and management dilemma for clinicians. While most commonly benign, syncope may be due to cardiac dysfunction which can be life-threatening. It can be secondary to an underlying ion channelopathy, cardiac inflammation, cardiac ischemia, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or pulmonary hypertension. Patients with genetic disorders require careful evaluation for a cardiac cause of syncope. Among the noncardiac causes, vasovagal syncope is the most common etiology. Breath-holding spells are commonly seen in this age group. Other causes of transient loss of consciousness include seizures, neurovascular pathology, head trauma, psychogenic pseudosyncope, and factitious disorder imposed on another and other forms of child abuse. A detailed social, present, past medical, and family medical history is important when evaluating loss of consciousness in the very young. Concerning characteristics of syncope include lack of prodromal symptoms, no preceding postural changes or occurring in a supine position, after exertion or a loud noise. A family history of sudden unexplained death, ion channelopathy, cardiomyopathy, or congenital deafness merits further evaluation. Due to inherent challenges in diagnosis at this age, often there is a lower threshold for referral to a specialist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Villafane
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, 743 East Broadway, Suite 300, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Jacob R Miller
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Julie Glickstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan N Johnson
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jonathan Wagner
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Chris S Snyder
- Congenital Heart Collaborative, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Tatiana Filina
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott L Pomeroy
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Caitlin Haxel
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Pirooz Eghtesady
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Ungar A, Ceccofiglio A, Pescini F, Mussi C, Tava G, Rafanelli M, Langellotto A, Marchionni N, van Dijk JG, Galizia G, Bonaduce D, Abete P. Syncope and Epilepsy coexist in 'possible' and 'drug-resistant' epilepsy (Overlap between Epilepsy and Syncope Study - OESYS). BMC Neurol 2017; 17:45. [PMID: 28241809 PMCID: PMC5330016 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-017-0822-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Differential diagnosis between syncope and epilepsy in patients with transient loss of consciousness of uncertain etiology is still unclear. Thus, the aim of the present work is to evaluate the prevalence of syncope in patients with “possible” or “drug-resistant” epilepsy. Methods The Overlap between Epilepsy and SYncope Study (OESYS) is a multicenter prospective observational study designed to estimate the prevalence of syncope in patients followed in Epilepsy Centers for “possible” or “drug-resistant” epilepsy and assessed according the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines of syncope diagnosis. Results One hundred seven patients were evaluated; 63 (58.9%) had possible and 44 (41.1%) drug-resistant epilepsy. A final diagnosis of isolated syncope was in 45 patients (42.1%), all with possible epilepsy (45/63, 71.4%). Isolated epilepsy was found in 21 patients (19.6%) and it was more frequent in the drug-resistant than in the possible epilepsy group (34.1% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.002). More importantly, syncope and epilepsy coexisted in 37.4% of all patients but the coexistence was more frequent among patients with drug-resistant than possible epilepsy (65.9% vs. 17.5%, p < 0.001). Conclusions Isolated syncope was diagnosed in ≈ 70% of patients with possible epilepsy. Syncope and epilepsy coexisted in ≈ 20% of patients with possible and in ≈ 60% of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. These findings highlight the need of ESC guidelines of syncope approach in patients with possible and drug-resistant epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ungar
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Syncope Unit, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alice Ceccofiglio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Syncope Unit, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Pescini
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, Epilepsy Center, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Mussi
- Geriatric and Gerontology Institute, University of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Gianni Tava
- Geriatric Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy
| | - Martina Rafanelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Syncope Unit, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Niccolò Marchionni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Syncope Unit, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - J Gert van Dijk
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gianlugi Galizia
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri- Syncope unit - UOC Cure sub-acute, Milan, Italy
| | - Domenico Bonaduce
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Abete
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini, 80131, Naples, Italy.
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Blad H, Lamberts RJ, van Dijk GJ, Thijs RD. Tilt-induced vasovagal syncope and psychogenic pseudosyncope: Overlapping clinical entities. Neurology 2015; 85:2006-10. [PMID: 26561288 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000002184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the combination of tilt-induced vasovagal syncope (VVS) and psychogenic pseudosyncope (PPS) and aid its clinical recognition. METHODS We identified people with tilt-induced VVS/PPS from 2 tertiary syncope referral centers. For each case, 3 controls with tilt-induced VVS were selected at random from the same center. Clinical characteristics were compared between both groups adjusting for multiple comparisons. RESULTS Of 1,164 tilt-table tests, 23 (2%) resulted in VVS/PPS; these 23 cases were compared with 69 VVS controls. VVS and PPS coincided more often than chance would predict: 2% vs 0.6%, p < 0.001. Typical VVS prodromes and triggers were reported in all people with VVS/PPS and in controls with VVS. Attack frequency was significantly higher in the VVS/PPS (2 per month, range 0.1-60) than in the VVS group (0.25 per month, range 0.02-4; p < 0.001). Delayed recovery of consciousness was more frequently reported in the VVS/PPS group (likelihood ratio [+LR] 8.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.94-16.84), as well as episodes without prodromes (+LR 5.57, 95% CI 2.53-12.26), atypical triggers (+LR 5.00, 95% CI 2.04-12.24), eye closure (+LR 3.75, 95% CI 1.68-8.35), and apparent loss of consciousness >1 minute (+LR 2.86, 95% CI 1.98-4.13). CONCLUSIONS VVS/PPS presents with a complex phenotype. High attack frequency, delayed recovery of consciousness, apparent loss of consciousness >1 minute, ictal eye closure, atypical triggers, and the absence of prodromes may serve as indicators that PPS coincides with VVS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Blad
- From Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN) (H.B., R.J.L., R.D.T.), Heemstede; and the Department of Neurology (J.G.v.D., R.D.T.), Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands
| | - Robert Jan Lamberts
- From Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN) (H.B., R.J.L., R.D.T.), Heemstede; and the Department of Neurology (J.G.v.D., R.D.T.), Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands
| | - Gert J van Dijk
- From Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN) (H.B., R.J.L., R.D.T.), Heemstede; and the Department of Neurology (J.G.v.D., R.D.T.), Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands
| | - Roland D Thijs
- From Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN) (H.B., R.J.L., R.D.T.), Heemstede; and the Department of Neurology (J.G.v.D., R.D.T.), Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
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Millichap JG. Management of Reflex Anoxic Seizures. Pediatr Neurol Briefs 2013. [DOI: 10.15844/pedneurbriefs-27-10-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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Abstract
Episodes of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) events pose diagnostic difficulties, as the causes are diverse, carry vastly different risks, and span various specialties. An inconsistent terminology contributes to the confusion. Here, we present a classification scheme for TLOC, based on ongoing multidisciplinary efforts including those of the Task Force on Syncope of the European Society of Cardiology. We also discuss the pathophysiology of TLOC and the key clinical features that aid diagnosis. TLOC is defined as an apparent loss of consciousness with an abrupt onset, a short duration, and a spontaneous and complete recovery. Syncope is defined as TLOC due to cerebral hypoperfusion, and is divided into reflex syncope (synonymous with neurally mediated syncope), syncope due to orthostatic hypotension, and cardiac syncope (arrhythmic or associated with structural cardiac disease). The other major groups of TLOC are generalized epileptic seizures, functional TLOC (psychogenic TLOC mimicking either epilepsy or syncope), and a further group of miscellaneous disorders. The management of patients who experience TLOC requires the recognition of the defining features of each of the major groups, and cooperation between different clinical specialties.
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Wieling W, Thijs RD, van Dijk N, Wilde AAM, Benditt DG, van Dijk JG. Symptoms and signs of syncope: a review of the link between physiology and clinical clues. Brain 2009; 132:2630-42. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awp179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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