Syncope:- sudden, transient loss of consciousness, due to reduced cerebral perfusion. The patient is unresponsive with loss of control.

Pre-syncope:- feeling of light-headiness that would lead to syncope, if corrective measures were not taken ( usually sitting, lying or hanging)

It is a major cause of morbidity in elderly population occurs in ½ of institutionalized patients. Account for 5% of hospital admission.

Causes:- Vasovagal :- vagal stimulation for example in fears and bad news Postural hypotension:- main causes dehydration, septicaemia, medication,

autonomic in Diabetes and addison’s disease. Carotid sinus hypersensitivity Cardiovascular :- arrythmia and outlet obstruction e.g. Aortic stenosis. Neurology:- TIA and stroke.

A major cause of morbidity on elderly, occur in 25% of institutionalised older people , and are recurrent in 1/3. risk increase with age and with presence of CVD . It accounts for 5% of hospital admission and many serious injuries e.g. Hip fractures

History:- Situation:- was the patient standing (orthostatic

hypotension),exercising(Ischemia or arrhythmia), eating9post prandial), Frightened or in pain( vasovagal).

Prodrome;- Was there any warning? Palpitation suggest arrhythmia, light headiness suggest any cause of hypotension, gustatory or olfactory aura suggest seizure, however association are not absolute; e.g. Arrhythmia often don’t cause palpitation.

Was there any LOC:- 30% will have amnesia of any transiet LOC.

Description of the attack:- by eye witness Recovery period :- Long indicate epilepsy and shor

cardiac cause . EXAMINATION:- INVESTIGATION:- Blood ,ECG,other IX

Common condition about 20% of community indwelling people and 50% of institutionalised older people

Most marked after meal, high temperature, exercise, and at early morning as well as late night

Reduction in systolic BP of 20mmHg on standing Reduction in systolic BP to less than 90mmHg on

standing Reduction in diastolic BP of 10mmHg with symptoms.

Drugs, like vasodilators, diuretics, B- blockers, alpha blockers, and CCB

Dehydration and acute hemorrhage( acute loss of volume)

Septicemia Prolonged hypertension Autonomic failure (pure, diabetic, parkinsons) Adrenal insufficiency Chronic hypertension( dcrease baroreflex

sensitivity and LV compliance). Prolonged bed rest.

Lifestyle measures Stop offending drugs Compression hosiery Sympathomimetic vasoconstrictors -

Midodrine, 2.5 mg tds (max 40mg daily) CI in IHD

Caffeine with meal or NSAID Head up-tilt to bed Erythropoietin or octreotide Volume expansion – Fludrocortisone 0.1-0.2

mg/daily, DDAVP 5-20mg nocte.

Significant when associated with symptoms , and fall of BP of more than 20mmHg . Within 75 minutes of meal.

more severe in older people , those with OH and autonomic failure.

Diagnosis:- Measure BP before meal and 30/60 minutes after meal.

Treatment:- Avoid Hypotensive drugs and alcohol with meals. Reduce osmotic load meal so have more frequent meals small portions and low simple CHO, high fiber/water content. Caffiene, Flurodocortison, NSAID rarely needed.

Upright posture, downward displacement of blood & venous pooling leading to:

Decreased ventricular filling & cardiac mechanoreceptor activation leading to:

Increased brainstem input & reduced sympathetic outflow & increased vagal tone

Resulting in vasodilatation & bradycardia syncope

Episoidic, symptomatic, bradycardia, and or hypotension, due to hypersensitive carotid baroreceptor reflex, resulting on syncope or near syncope. It is an important and treatable cause.

2% in healthy individual, and 35% of fallers above the age of 80 years.

Mechanism Typical triggers are:- neck turning( looking up or around),

tight collars, straining, meal, prolonged standing. How to perform CSM:- on a tilt table with 70 degree, CPR facilities

should be available, CI if recent MI/CVA and should not be performed if carotid bruit unless normal doppler USS. Warn patient of possible SE specially arrhythmia happens in patient on digoxin, and neurological symptoms , usually transiet and happens in 0.14%). , attach the patient to cardiac monitor with beat to beat BP, identify carotid sinus, 5-10 second message, look for a systole and hypotension.,

Carotid sinus massage for 5 seconds:

Cardio inhibitory: 3 second or more period of asystole

Vasodepressor: a 50mmHg fall in systolic blood pressure

Mixed response

Cardio-inhibitory: permanent pacing

Vasodepressor: very difficult to treat, consider those therapies used for orthostatic hypotension

Full history ?dizziness, ?vertigo, Pre-syncope, mixed, unsteadiness, malaise or generalised weakness

Causes • Acute lybranthitis • Menieres disease• BPV• Causes of syncope and pre-syncope • Post Circulation infarction• Vertebrobasilar insufficiency • Anxiety and depression Multifactorial •

functional impairment of the midbrian, cerebellum, or occipital cortex , symptoms include:-

1. Abrupt onset, recurrent dizziness or vertigo. 2. Nausea and or vomiting. 3. Ataxia4. Visual disruption. 5. Dysarthria6. Limb parasthesia Causes:- Atherosclerosis of vertebral or cerebellar a,

vertebral artery compression by cervical osteophytes secondary to OA, Obstructing tumour.

Investigation:- Risk of CVD, X-ray Cx spine, CT head or MRI, MRA or Doppler

• 64 years old, history of flu like illness 4 days ago, now presenting with dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and vertigo, he presented to you with fall 2 hours ago.

• 67 years old man lives alone , presented with nausea, vomiting, right sided weakness, and slurred speech, followed by falling on the floor. Past medical history of diabetes, glaucoma, cataract. Smokes 20 cig/ daily, drinks 5 units of ETOH. Medication:- glucophage, B-blockers eye drops.

• 80 years old , collapsed when he looked up. He suffers from severe OA of both knees. He has been falling many times in the past.

HISTORY Situation in which syncope occurred Posture at time Preceding symptoms Actual loss of consciousness Subsequent symptoms Eye witness account Co-morbidity Drug history

Heart rate / rhythm Postural BP Carotid bruits Carotid sinus massage Presence of murmurs Neurology: evidence of stroke, cerebellar

signs, Parkinson’s Disease

Baseline bloods : anaemia, renal dysfunction, diabetes

12 lead ECG Holter monitoring Tilt testing : 80’ head up tilt for 45 minutes

+/- GTN provocation. CSM supine & 80’ head up tilt

Advise patient to avoid caffeine, large meals & alcohol prior to test

Omit cardiac drugs prior to test

Consent for the procedure

Lie flat on tilt table for 15 minutes

CSM Supine

Tilt for 30 minutes

If no events – carry out CSM when tilted

If no events – administer 2 puffs GTN sublingually & monitor for a further 15-20 minutes depending on response

66 lady from India, diabetic on metformin, presented with history of recurrent falls in the last 6 months. She also complained of generally feeling weak, tired, lost 7kg in the last 3 months with nausea and vomiting in the morning . O/E Bp Lying 130/80 Standing 100/60

76 years old , history of recurrent fall, with historyOf hypertension on amlodipine, and osteoarthritis ofBoth knees. Last fall happened while searching for a book in his library . O/E BP L/S normal , bilateralKnee swelling, X-ray neck severe OA (previous film)

74 man , hypertensive on amlodipine ,and amiloride, and lisinopril also has history of bilateral knee OA with left sided TKR. Recently visited a surgeon for symptoms of BPH , started on Doxazocin 4mg . Presented with feeling light headed , dizzy, and followed by blackout and then fall.

77 old man , history of parkinson disease , presented with recurrent falls associated with feeling dizzy on standing up ,BP (L) 140/90 (S) 110/70