THIS TALK WAS PRESENTED LIVE DURING THE INAUGURAL MEDD LIVE 2020 VIRTUAL MEDICAL CONFERENCE

Managing the challenging syncope patient in General Practice

Learning Outcomes:
1. Understand the magnitude of syncope within Australia
2. Provide insights into the latest guidelines for the diagnosis of syncope
3. Risk factors for the identification of patients with unexplained syncope
4. Provide guidance for the diagnosis of a patient with unexplained syncope
5. Provide strategies to improve the efficiency of the syncope diagnostic pathway

Abstract:
Syncope is significant and often under-recognized healthcare issue. In General Practice, syncope patients often present as faints, fits, funny turns, blackouts, or falls. Approx. 10% of syncope is due to underlying cardiac causes. These patients have an increased mortality rate. In addition, one-third of patients will experience unexplained syncope despite investigation. A significant portion of these patients will have an undiagnosed cardiac cause or may experience recurrent syncope events. The diagnostic pathway for these patients is often unclear, associated with repeat testing and consultations across many specialties. This talk will review the latest Syncope Guidelines as a framework to identify cardiac syncope risk factors and strategies to more efficiently diagnose unexplained syncope.