Basics

Terminology

The terminology of syncope and its related disorders is diverse and if used imprecisely may easily become misleading[1],[2]. “Transient loss of consciousness” covers all syncopal, epileptic, metabolic and psychogenic forms of loss of consciousness. “Syncope” refers to transient loss of consciousness caused by transient cerebral hypoxia, most often from disturbances in blood pressure control either from cardiac arrhythmias (“cardiac syncope”) or neurally mediated mechanisms. The majority of neurally mediated syncopes are “vasovagal syncope”. “Faint” is a lay term for transient loss of consciousness, whereas “the common faint” refers to vasovagal syncope. For the latter “vasovagal fainting” may be a useful synonym. Situational syncope is a subclass of neurally mediated syncope.

References

1. Thijs RD, Wieling W, Kaufmann H, and van Dijk G. Defining and classifying syncope. Clin Auton Res. 2004 Oct;14 Suppl 1:4-8. DOI:10.1007/s10286-004-1002-4 |
2. Thijs RD, Granneman E, Wieling W, and van Dijk JG. [Terms in use for transient loss of consciousness in the emergency ward; an inventory]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2005 Jul 16;149(29):1625-30.