Syncope

Dr. Michele Brignole was  the Head of Cardiology at the Arrhythmologic Centre, Ospedali Tigullio in Lavagna, Genoa. At present, he his coordinator of the Faint&Fall Centre at the IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. He is member of the European Society of Cardiology and memebr of the board of the GIMSI (Multidisiplinary Italian Association for the stydy of Syncope). He is the chairman of the Task Force on Syncope of the European Society of Cardiology.

Dr. David Benditt received his undergraduate education in electrical engineering and his M.D. from the University of Manitoba. After completing fellowships in general cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, Dr. Benditt joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota Cardiovascular Division, where he established the Cardiac Arrhythmia Center (CAC). The CAC's mission supports basic and clinical research on the causes, diagnoses, and treatments of cardiac arrhythmias, syncope (fainting disorders), and sudden cardiac death.

Foreword.- Preface.- Tloc/Collapse Pathophysiologic And Epidemiologic  Features.- Syncope:  Definition and Classification- Contrasting American and European Guideline definitions.- Physiology of Maintaining Healthy Consciousness: Role of autonomic nervous system.- Prognosis of TLOC/Collapse Across the Diagnostic Spectrum.- The Burden of TLOC/Collapse: Economic Impact.- Basic Clinical Features.- Determining the Cause of TLOC/Collapse: The Initial Evaluation.- Seizures vs Syncope: Distinguishing Features for the Clinic.- The Reflex Syncopes: The Common and Less Common Variants.- Orthostatic Hypotension Variants, POTs, and Less well Defined Autonomic Dysfunction.- Bradycardias and Tachycardias: Acquired and Inheritable.- Psychogenic Pseudosyncope and Approaches to Treatment.- Basic Diagnostic Strategies.- TLOC/Collapse Risk Assessment: Who Needs to be Hospitalized and Who can be evaluated as Outpatient.- Ambulatory ECG Monitoring in TLOC/Collapse: Current status andUtility in USA and Europe.- Carotid sinus syndrome: Pathophysiology and diagnosis.- Electrophysiological Testing: Appropriate Indications in TLOC/Collapse.- Chp 15 The Syncope Evaluation Unit: Essential Features, Current Status.- Selected Testing: When And How.- The Autonomic Testing Laboratory for studying Syncope/Collapse: Studies and Their Interpretation.- Utility of Video-EEG for Diagnosing and Understanding TLOC/Collapse.- Role of Head and Cardiac Imaging, and Cardiac Stress Testing for Syncope/Collapse.- Selected Treatment Concerns.- Update on Cardiac Pacing in Reflex Syncope.- Indications for pacing in patients with unexplained syncope and bifascicular block.- ICD indications  in patients with unexplained syncope.- Drugs in Vasovagal Syncope: Current Status.- Ictal Asystole, Relation to VVS and Role of Cardiac Pacing.- Driving and Flying: US and European Recommendations.