Cardiovascular · UKMLA & AKT
Vasovagal syncope
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
Key high-yield points
- Three phases - prodrome, brief LOC (<1 min), rapid full recovery. Diagnosis is clinical.
- Prodrome (seconds to minutes before): warmth/flushing, nausea, pallor, diaphoresis, lightheadedness, greying/darkening vision, whooshing sound in ears
- LOC: brief (<1 min), limp and pale; ~10% have brief myoclonic jerks ('convulsive syncope') - can mimic seizure
- Recovery: rapid and complete; no post-ictal confusion, no focal deficit, orientation returns almost immediately
The key discriminator from tonic-clonic seizure is the post-ictal state. After a faint, recovery is immediate. Prolonged confusion after LOC = seizure until proved otherwise.
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