Syncope (fainting) - Essay Example

Syncope (Fainting) Introduction Syncope or fainting is a dramatic occurrence to onlookers, as the patient faints all of a sudden. In the normal course of events an individual who has experienced a syncope event recovers within minutes or hours, but in the absence of appropriate treatment, syncope can be a life threatening disorder. When syncope is a symptom reflecting the presence of another underlying condition, then the prognosis for syncope will depend on the course of the underlying disorder (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 1).

Definition, Diagnosis, and Classification of Syncope According to Benditt and Nguyen, p.1741, “Syncope is a common clinical problem characterized by transient, spontaneously self-terminating loss of consciousness with complete and prompt recovery.” The cause of a syncope event is the lack of sufficient supply of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, for which the most frequent cause is a transient drop in the systemic arterial pressure, to levels below that which can be tolerated by the autoregulation of the cerebrovascular system.

The assumption of low mortality risk normally associated with syncope is deficient in that although by itself it is benign, it carries with it the issues of recurrence, risk of physical injury, reduced quality of life, and restriction in employment or avocation (Benditt & Nguyen, 1741). There are four classical diagnostic features for the diagnosis of syncope. They are loss of consciousness, with absence of postural tone; relatively quick onset; spontaneous, totally and normally prompt recovery; and the underlying cause of transient global cerebral hypo-perfusion.

Syncope is just one of the several causes among the probable etiologies of transient loss of consciousness (Brignole & Benditt, 3-7). There are three important subsets in the etiology of syncope, which are reflex, which is neurally mediated; orthostatic; and cardiac or cardiovascular. Reflux syncope can be triggered by emotional stress issues or situational issues like a cough or a sneeze; orthostatic syncope from disease conditions, like Parkinson’s disease and diabetes, or from the effects of certain drugs; and cardiac syncope from arrhythmia ((Brignole & Benditt, 3-7).

Treatment of Syncope The immediate treatment response for an individual experiencing a syncope event is to ensure that the airway passages are open and breathing is occurring. The individual should be placed in a prone position in a cool and quiet place. In the event this is not possible, the individual must be placed in a sitting position, with head placed below the shoulders and between the knees. Splashing of ice cold water on the face or giving the individual a glass of cold water will refresh the individual (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 1).

Patient education is the basis of treatment for neurally mediate syncope. Techniques that assist in aborting syncope attacks and decreasing the risk for future recurrent attacks should be taught to the patient. Other patient education possibilities are risk of high salt intake and smoking cessation (Benditt & Nguyen, 1749). Conclusion Syncope attacks are dramatic events, but normally not life threatening to the individual. The cause for the transient loss of consciousness in syncope attacks is the lack of sufficient supply of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, for which the most frequent cause is a transient drop in the systemic arterial pressure, to levels below that which can be tolerated by the autoregulation of the cerebrovascular system.

Immediate interventions at the time of a syncope attack targets ensuring open airway passages for free breathing and assisting the patient to recover. Patient education with emphasis on preventing the recurrence of syncope attacks is the basis for treatment syncope. Works CitedBenditt, G. David & Nguyen, T. John. “Syncope: Therapeutic Approaches”. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 53.19 (2009): 1741-1751.Brignole, Michele & Benditt, G. David. Syncope: An Evidence-Based Approach.

London: Springer Verlag London Limited. 2011.National Institute of Neurological Disorders. “NINDS Syncope Information Page”. 2011. 23 April 2012. .