Case 11-1963

Presentation of CaseAn eighty-three-year-old Italian woman was referred to the hospital because of fainting spells.On the evening before entry the patient experienced for the first time an episode of unconsciousness, pulselessness and apnea, preceded by a loud gasp and associated with upward rolling of the eyes. She was seen immediately by a nurse, and a physician was called. She regained consciousness spontaneously within four or five minutes and was alert and able to converse normally when the physician arrived. The attack was not accompanied by chest pain, convulsions or diaphoresis, and there had been no headache. The physician . . .