Key result
Physical exam and ECG guide syncope evaluation for highest diagnostic yield at the lowest cost.
Physical examination and ECG findings can guide the evaluation of syncope to maximize diagnostic yield and minimize costs.
Supports targeted exam and ECG use in syncope; leaves open prospective validation of yield and costs before practice change.
Syncope has many causes. Although the most common ones are generally benign and do not require extensive evaluation, cardiac syncope has high rates of recurrence and death. In this article, Dr Hauer describes how physical examination and electrocardiographic findings can guide further evaluation to provide the largest diagnostic yield at the lowest cost.
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Karen E. Hauer (2003) studied this question. Physical examination and electrocardiographic findings can guide the evaluation of syncope to provide the largest diagnostic yield at the lowest cost.
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