| Causes of Syncope in Children |
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Jae Young Lee, Chung Il Noh, Eun Jung Chun, Sun Sung Park, Myung Ja Yun, Hong Ryang Gil, Ho Sung Kim, Jung Yun Choi, Yong Su Yun |
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Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea |
| 소아에서의 실신의 원인 |
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이재영, 노정일, 천은정, 박순성, 윤명자, 길홍향, 김호성, 최정연, 윤용수 |
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서울대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실 |
Correspondence:
Yong Su Yun, Email: 1
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| Abstract |
Purpose
: Syncope is not rare and is caused by various conditions ranging from common physiologic
derangements to life-threatening conditions. However, there are limited reports regarding
syncope in children. We retrospectively analyzed our experiences of the syncope in children.
Methods
: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients with syncopal episodes between
October 1985 and June 1996.
Results
: Sixty-eight patients(male; 36, female; 32, mean onset age 10.9¡¾3.7, range 3-18 years)
were evaluated. Causes were identified in 67.6%(46/68) : neurocardiogenic syncope in 25(36.8%),
cardiac syncope in 21(30.8%). Among the children with cardiac syncope, rhythm disturbances
were major and occurred in 19[complete heart block 1, sinus node dysfunction 3, atrial flutter 2,
atrial fibrillation 1, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia 2, ventricular tachycardia(VT) 10].
Syncope occurred in two patients with structural defects, one with diffuse coronary arteriopathy
and the other with double outlet right ventricle with pulmonary hypertension, although the causes
remained uncertain. Among those with VT, associated abnormalities were : TU complex abnormalities
in 5, cardiac tumor in 2, cardiomyopathy in 1, unidentified in 2. Various precipitating
factors were described in 39(57.4%); eleven(52.4%) of 21 with cardiac syncope, syncope was
exercise related. Among the selected 12 with complicated neurocardiogenic syncope (exercise
related, associated with ventricular arrhythmia, or with postoperative congenital heart disease),
head-up tilt test with or without isoproterenol infusion reproduced syncope in 10 patients(83.3%).
Sudden cardiac death was found in two children; 1 with exercise related polymorphic VT, 1 with
VT and cardiac tumor.
Conclusion
: Various causes can be identified after scrupulous evaluation. Cardiac causes should
be considered especially in case of exercise related syncope. Head-up tilt test is an effective
diagnostic method in neurocardiogenic syncope. |
| Key Words:
Syncope, Children, Head-up tilt test |
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