Syncope Mnemonics

Syncope  “HEAD, HEART and VESS’LS”

  • H – hypoglycemia hypoxia
  • E – epilepsy
  • A – anxiety [the “swoon”]
  • D – dysfunction of brain stem [i.e. brain stem TIA]
  • H – heart attack
  • E – embolism of pulmonary artery
  • A – aortic obstruction [ Aortic stenosis, myxoma, IHSS ]
  • R – rhythm disturbance
  • T – tachycardia esp VT
  • V – vasovagal
  • E – ectopic i.e. hemorrhage obvious or not
  • S – situational [micturation, defecation…]
  • S – subclavial steal
  • L – low SVR [eg: anaphalaxis]
  • S – sensitive carotid sinus