{"id":"ed4c6873-cebf-4fee-ba9c-ae1235c6e00f","slug":"evaluating-the-patient-with-loss-of-consciousness","title":"Evaluating the patient with loss of consciousness","authors":["Tahsin Khan","Mark Stecker","Mona Stecker"],"abstract":"Background: Patients presenting with loss of consciousness (LOC) account for over 6% of emergency room admissions. Accurate evaluation begins with obtaining a thorough history from various sources, including the patient and witnesses, while recognizing potential biases in their accounts. Distinguishing between neurological and cardiac causes of transient alterations in awareness is crucial for appropriate management. Summary: The editorial discusses the importance of a comprehensive history and physical examination in diagnosing the cause of LOC. It highlights common misconceptions, such as conflating all transient awareness alterations with syncope, and emphasizes the need for clear definitions and differential diagnoses. Specific historical elements and clinical rules, such as the Calgary and San Francisco syncope rules, are presented as tools to aid in risk stratification and diagnosis. Conclusion: Despite extensive literature on diagnosing transient alterations in consciousness, the process remains complex and heavily reliant on the clinician's ability to gather a detailed history and perform a thorough examination. Accurate diagnosis is essential for effective patient management and outcomes. Keywords: loss of consciousness, syncope, diagnosis, neurological causes, cardiac causes, history taking, risk stratification, emergency medicine","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/ed4c6873-cebf-4fee-ba9c-ae1235c6e00f/featured/hero-1782420893453.png","publishDate":"2015-05-25T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/2152-7806.157615","categories":["General Neurosurgery","Editorial"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/ed4c6873-cebf-4fee-ba9c-ae1235c6e00f/pdf"}