Why the study?
Differentiating between seizures and convulsive syncope in patients with hyperkalemic emergencies complicated by complete heart block presents a critical diagnostic challenge essential for determining appropriate treatment.
This case report underscores the importance of differentiating convulsive syncope from true seizures in patients with hyperkalemia-induced complete heart block, highlighting the utility of the head-upright tilt test.
May aid differentiation of syncope from seizures; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before wider use.
We present a case involving an 87-year-old woman who had a hyperkalemic emergency. This condition was further complicated by complete heart block (CHB) and seizure-like activity. This case emphasizes the challenge of differentiating between seizures and convulsive syncope. Achieving an accurate diagnosis is essential for determining the appropriate medical treatment. This case report highlights the various symptoms and complications associated with hyperkalemia, emphasizing the importance of conducting a thorough examination to explore other potential causes. Additionally, it emphasizes the usefulness of the head-upright tilt test (HUTT) as a method to differentiate convulsive syncope from seizures, particularly in cases involving vagal stimulation.
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Cho et al. (2023) studied this question.
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