Assessment of paediatric exertional or peri-exertional syncope: does the story matter?

Exertional syncope has been suggested to correlate with a cardiac aetiology, particularly when occurring in mid-stride. The aim of the study is to evaluate the incidence of cardiac disease among children presenting with exertional syncope, determine the influence of timing within activity, and determine the utility of genetic testing and implantable event monitors in the evaluation of cardiac syncope. The patients ≤18 years old with exertional syncope who underwent exercise stress testing between 2008 and 2019 were retrospectively included. Patients were assessed to be in one of three groups: mid-exertion (mid-stride syncope), peri-exertion (syncope during activity but not moving), and post-exertion (within minutes of the activity). A total of 334 patients were included; 46 % were mid-exertion, 18 % were peri-exertion, and 36 % were post-exertion. Thirteen patients (3.8 %) were diagnosed with cardiac syncope; n = 9 (69 %) mid-exertion. Only mid-exertional syncope was significantly associated with a cardiac diagnosis (OR: 2.6). Cardiac diagnoses included inherited arrhythmia syndromes (n = 9), abnormal coronary origins (n = 2), and supraventricular tachycardia (n = 2). Only catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (n = 5) was associated with mid-exertional syncope (OR: 1.4). The definitive diagnostic test was exercise testing (n = 8), echocardiogram (n = 2), genetic testing (n = 1), ambulatory monitor (n = 1), and EKG (n = 1). Mid-stride syncope was more likely to result in a cardiac diagnosis, and exercise testing is the most common definitive test as catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia was the primary aetiology of exertional syncope in our cohort. Implantable event monitors and genetic testing could be helpful in ruling out cardiac disease.

Assessment of Canadian Syncope Risk Score in the prediction of outcomes of patients with syncope at the Emergency Department of Suez Canal University: STROBE compliant.

ABSTRACT: Syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness usually related to insufficient blood flow to the brain. It's also called fainting or "passing out." Syncope is responsible for 3% to 5% of emergency department visits, with a hospitalization rate in about 40% of cases, with an average stay of 5.5 days. The Canadian Syncope Risk Score showed good discrimination and calibration for 30-day risk of serious adverse events after disposition from the emergency department.The aim was to assess Canadian Syncope Risk Score in predicting outcomes and mortality at the emergency department of Suez Canal University Hospitals.A prospective observational cohort study was carried out in emergency department in Suez Canal University Hospital. After approval by the Ethical and Research Committee of Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, 60 patients with syncope attending to emergency department were included to this study. All included participants were assessed by history taking and they also assessed by the Canadian Syncope Risk Score.The Canadian Syncope Risk Score's mean of the study group was 4.9 and the range of the scores was from -2 to 11. The mean of the percentage of risk of serious events at 30 days in the study group was 29.17% and it ranged from 0.7% to 83.6%.There was a statistically significant difference between means Canadian Syncope Risk Score's score regarding complication occurrence. Cases which showed complications had a mean score of 7.33 compared to a mean score of 1.25 in case of no complication occurrence P-value <.001. At a cut-off point of more than 3 for the Canadian Syncope Risk Score's, sensitivity of that score in complication's occurrence prediction was 100% and the specificity was 87.5% P-value <.001.The Canadian Syncope Risk Score's is strong predictor for risk of serious adverse events and a good indicator for admission, with 100% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity at cut off point more than 3.

Personalised risk prediction following emergency department assessment for syncope.

BACKGROUND: Published risk tools do not provide possible management options for syncope in the emergency department (ED). Using the 30-day observed risk estimates based on the Canadian Syncope Risk Score (CSRS), we developed personalised risk prediction to guide management decisions. METHODS: We pooled previously reported data from two large cohort studies, the CSRS derivation and validation cohorts, that prospectively enrolled adults (≥16 years) with syncope at 11 Canadian EDs between 2010 and 2018. Using this larger cohort, we calculated the CSRS calibration and discrimination, and determined with greater precision than in previous studies the 30-day risk of adjudicated serious outcomes not identified during the index ED evaluation depending on the CSRS and the risk category. Based on these findings, we developed an on-line calculator and pictorial decision aids. RESULTS: 8233 patients were included of whom 295 (3.6%, 95% CI 3.2% to 4.0%) experienced 30-day serious outcomes. The calibration slope was 1.0, and the area under the curve was 0.88 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.91). The observed risk increased from 0.3% (95% CI 0.2% to 0.5%) in the very-low-risk group (CSRS -3 to -2) to 42.7% (95% CI 35.0% to 50.7%), in the very-high-risk (CSRS≥+6) group (Cochrane-Armitage trend test p<0.001). Among the very-low and low-risk patients (score -3 to 0), ≤1.0% had any serious outcome, there was one death due to sepsis and none suffered a ventricular arrhythmia. Among the medium-risk patients (score +1 to+3), 7.8% had serious outcomes, with <1% death, and a serious outcome was present in >20% of high/very-high-risk patients (score +4 to+11) including 4%-6% deaths. The online calculator and the pictorial aids can be found at: https://teamvenk.com/csrs CONCLUSIONS: 30-day observed risk estimates from a large cohort of patients can be obtained for management decision-making. Our work suggests very-low-risk and low-risk patients may be discharged, discussion with patients regarding investigations and disposition are needed for medium-risk patients, and high-risk patients should be hospitalised. The online calculator, accompanied by pictorial decision aids for the CSRS, may assist in discussion with patients.

A key role for comprehensive geriatric assessment in aortic valve replacement.

As our population ages, the demand for surgical services in older people is increasing exponentially. Shown to be indispensable in the care of medical patients, use of the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is also growing in the perioperative setting. We present the case of a previously independent 82-year-old man who underwent a standard preoperative assessment and surgical aortic valve replacement. In the 7 months that followed, prior to his death, he suffered a rapid functional decline contributed to by slow postoperative recovery, delirium and recurrent falls. Post-mortem revealed cardiac amyloid deposition and extensive small vessel disease in the brain. This case highlights the importance of the CGA in the perioperative management of older patients, especially in identification and optimisation of geriatric syndromes and consideration of less-invasive alternative treatments. We review the existing literature on CGA use in cardiothoracic and vascular surgical settings, drawing on experiences learnt from the above case.

The role of clinical assessment and electrophysiology study in Brugada syndrome patients with syncope.

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic syncope in Brugada syndrome (BrS) increases the risk of major events. Nevertheless, clinical differentiation between cardiogenic and vasovagal syncope can be challenging. We characterized the long-term incidence of major events in a large cohort of BrS patients who presented with syncope. METHODS: From a total of 474 patients, syncope was the initial manifestation in 135 (28.5%) individuals (43.9 ±â€¯13.9 years, 71.1% male). The syncope was classified prospectively as cardiogenic, vasovagal, or undefined if unclear characteristics were present. Clinical, electrocardiographic, genetic, and electrophysiologic features were analyzed. Cardiogenic syncope, sustained ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden death were considered major events in follow-up. RESULTS: In 66 patients (48.9%), the syncope was cardiogenic; in 51 (37.8%), vasovagal and in 18 (13.3%); undefined. The electrophysiology study (EPS) inducibility was more frequent in patients with cardiogenic syncope and absent in all patients with undefined syncope (28 [53.8%] vs 5 [12.2%] vs 0 [0%]; P < .01). During follow-up (7.7 ±â€¯5.6 years), only patients with cardiogenic syncope presented major events (16 [11.9%]). Among patients with inducible EPS, 7 (21.2%) presented major events (P = .04). The negative predictive value of the EPS for major events was 92.4%. The incidence rate of major events was 2.6% person-year. Parameters associated with major events included cardiogenic syncope (hazard ratio [HR] 6.3; 95% CI 1.1-10.4; P = .05), spontaneous type 1 electrocardiogram (HR 3.7; 95% CI 1.3-10.5; P = .01), and inducible EPS (HR 2.8; 95% CI 1.1-8.8; P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: An accurate syncope classification is crucial in BrS patients for risk stratification. In patients with syncope of unclear characteristics, the EPS may be helpful to prevent unnecessary implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring for syncope and collapse: a comparative assessment of clinical practice in UK and Germany.

Aims: Diagnostic ambulatory electrocardiogram (AECG) monitoring is widely used for evaluating syncope/collapse. In Europe, two sets of practice guidelines [National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and European Society of Cardiology (ESC)] provide recommendations concerning optimal selection of AECG devices. However, whether practising physicians' select AECGs based on published guidelines is unclear. This study examined AECG use by Emergency Department (EDs) physicians and cardiologists in two European countries: Germany (D) and United Kingdom (UK). Methods and Results: A quantitative survey was undertaken in which 177 respondents participated (ED: UK 33, Germany 40; Cardiology: UK 54, Germany 50). The choice of AECG technology varied by specialty. Thus, among EDs, despite patients having daily symptoms, 20% (UK), 31% (D) of respondents chose an AECG other than Holter monitor. Conversely, when monitoring for infrequent events (

A Population-Based Cohort Study Evaluating Outcomes and Costs for Syncope Presentations to the Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to examine outcomes and costs of patients with syncope admitted and discharged from the emergency department (ED). BACKGROUND: ED visits for syncope are common, yet the impact on health care utilization is relatively unknown. METHODS: A total of 51,831 consecutive patients presented to the ED with a primary diagnosis of syncope (International Classification of Diseases-9 code 780.2 and International Classification of Diseases-10 code R55) in Alberta, Canada from 2006 to 2014. Outcomes included 30-day syncope ED and hospital readmissions; 30-day and 1-year mortality; and annual inpatient, outpatient, physician, and drug costs, cumulative. RESULTS: Of adults presenting to the ED, 6.6% were hospitalized and discharged with a primary diagnosis of syncope (Cohort 1), 8.7% were hospitalized and discharged with a primary diagnosis other than syncope (Cohort 2), and 84.7% were discharged home with a syncope diagnosis (Cohort 3). The 30-day ED revisits for syncope varied from 1.2% (Cohort 2) to 2.4% (Cohort 1) (p < 0.001), and readmission rates were <1% among cohorts. Short- and long-term mortality rates were highest for Cohort 2 and lowest for Cohort 3 (30-day mortality: Cohort 1 of 1.2%, Cohort 2 of 5.2%, Cohort 3 of 0.4%; p < 0.001) (1-year mortality: Cohort 1 of 9.2%, Cohort 2 of 17.7%, Cohort 3 of 3.0%; p < 0.001). Total cost of syncope presentations was $530.6 million (Cohort 1: $75.3 million; $29,519/patient, Cohort 2: $138.1 million; $42,042/patient, Cohort 3: $317.3 million; $9,963/patient; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with syncope presenting to the ED were discharged and had a favorable prognosis but overall costs were high compared with patients hospitalized. Further research is needed for cost-saving strategies across all cohorts.

Syncope as a subject of the risk assessment of pulmonary thromboembolism to be used for: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Syncope is infrequent in pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) yet might be indicative of haemodynamic instability. The prognostic role of syncope in PTE has not been well documented. OBJECTIVES: In this study, the association between risk classification of the European Society of Cardiology and syncope was investigated in the normotensive PTE patients. METHODS: We retrospectively screened electronic medical records of patients who were admitted in 2 tertiary care hospital and diagnosis of PTE with computed tomography pulmonary angiography. Patients with hypotension (high risk) at the time of admission were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Of 5% patients (16/322) had syncope with the proportion of 81.3% (13/16) in the intermediate high risky group, 18.7% (3/16) in intermediate low risk group and 0% in low risk group. Mortality rate was higher in subjects with syncope (25% vs 11.1%) although it was not it was not statistically significant (P = NS). In those with syncope, the central venous thrombus was more frequent than those without it (78.6% vs 30.1%, P = .008). Only heart rate and intermediate high-risk group were retained as independent predictors of syncope selection in the multivariate logistic regression. CONCLUSION: Although syncope is positively correlated with the severity of PTE, it does not predict the prognosis alone. Nonetheless, syncope in patients with PTE can be considered as an important alarming stimulus for clinical course.

The impact of prehospital assessment and EMS transport of acute aortic syndrome patients.

BACKGROUND: The quality of acute aortic syndrome (AAS) assessment by emergency medical service (EMS) and the incidence and prehospital factors associated with 1-month survival remain unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data collected for 94,468 patients with non-traumatic medical emergency excluding out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during the period of 2011-2014. RESULTS: Of these transported by EMS, 22,075 had any of the AAS-related symptoms, and 330 had an EMS-assessed risk for AAS; of these, 195 received an in-hospital AAS diagnosis. Of the remaining 21,745 patients without EMS-assessed risk, 166 were diagnosed with AAS. Therefore, the sensitivity and specificity of our EMS-risk assessment for AAS was 54.0% (195/361) and 99.4% (21,579/21,714), respectively. EMS assessed the risk less frequently when patients were elderly and presented with dyspnea and syncope/faintness. Sign of upper extremity ischemia was rarely detected (6.9%) and absence of this sign was associated with lack of EMS-assessed risk. The calculation of modified aortic dissection detection risk score revealed that rigorous assessment based on this score may increase the EMS sensitivity for AAS. The 1-month survival rate was significantly higher in patients admitted to core hospitals with surgical teams for AAS than in those admitted to all other hospitals [87.5% (210/240) vs 69.4% (84/121); P<0.01]. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that Stanford type A, Glasgow coma scale ≤14, and admission to core hospitals providing emergency cardiovascular surgery were associated with 1-month survival. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement of AAS survival is likely to be affected by rapid admission to appropriate hospitals providing cardiovascular surgery.

Association of History of Dizziness and Long-term Adverse Outcomes With Early vs Later Orthostatic Hypotension Assessment Times in Middle-aged Adults.

Importance: Guidelines recommend assessing orthostatic hypotension (OH) 3 minutes after rising from supine to standing positions. It is not known whether measurements performed immediately after standing predict adverse events as strongly as measurements performed closer to 3 minutes. Objective: To compare early vs later OH measurements and their association with history of dizziness and longitudinal adverse outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prospective cohort study of middle-aged (range, 44-66 years) participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (1987-1989). Exposures: Orthostatic hypotension, defined as a drop in blood pressure (BP) (systolic BP ≥20 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥10 mm Hg) from the supine to standing position, was measured up to 5 times at 25-second intervals. Main Outcomes and Measures: We determined the association of each of the 5 OH measurements with history of dizziness on standing (logistic regression) and risk of fall, fracture, syncope, motor vehicle crashes, and all-cause mortality (Cox regression) over a median of 23 years of follow-up (through December 31, 2013). Results: In 11 429 participants (mean age, 54 years; 6220 [54%] were women; 2934 [26%] were black) with at least 4 OH measurements after standing, after adjustment OH assessed at measurement 1 (mean [SD], 28 [5.4] seconds; range, 21-62 seconds) was the only measurement associated with higher odds of dizziness (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.18-1.89). Measurement 1 was associated with the highest rates of fracture, syncope, and death at 18.9, 17.0, and 31.4 per 1000 person-years. Measurement 2 was associated with the highest rate of falls and motor vehicle crashes at 13.2 and 2.5 per 1000 person-years. Furthermore, after adjustment measurement 1 was significantly associated with risk of fall (hazard ratio [HR], 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03-1.44), fracture (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01-1.34), syncope (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.20-1.63), and mortality (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.23-1.51). Measurement 2 (mean [SD], 53 [7.5] seconds; range, 43-83 seconds) was associated with all long-term outcomes, including motor vehicle crashes (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.04-1.96). Measurements obtained after 1 minute were not associated with dizziness and were inconsistently associated with individual long-term outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance: In contrast with prevailing recommendations, OH measurements performed within 1 minute of standing were the most strongly related to dizziness and individual adverse outcomes, suggesting that OH be assessed within 1 minute of standing.

Cost of Unnecessary Testing in the Evaluation of Pediatric Syncope.

Syncope is a common and a typically benign clinical problem in children and adolescents. The majority of tests ordered in otherwise healthy pediatric patients presenting with syncope have low diagnostic yield. This study quantifies testing and corresponding patient charges in a group of pediatric patients presenting for outpatient evaluation for syncope. Patients seen between 3/2011 and 4/2013 in the multi-disciplinary Syncope Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center were enrolled in a registry which was reviewed for patient information. The electronic medical record was used to determine which syncope patients underwent cardiac (electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or exercise testing) or neurologic (head CT/MRI or electroencephalogram) testing within the interval from 3 months before to 3 months after the Syncope Clinic visit. Testing charges were obtained through hospital billing records. 442 patients were included for analysis; 91% were Caucasian; 65.6% were female; median age was 15.1 years (8.1-21.2 years). Cardiac and neurologic testing was common in this population. While some testing was performed during the Syncope Clinic visit, 46% of the testing occurred before or after the visit. A total of $1.1 million was charged to payers for cardiac and neurological testing with an average total charge of $2488 per patient. Despite the typically benign etiology of pediatric syncope, patients often have expensive and unnecessary cardiac and/or neurologic testing. Reducing or eliminating this unnecessary testing could have a significant impact on healthcare costs, especially as the economics of healthcare shift to more capitated systems.

Syncope: Outcomes and Conditions Associated with Hospitalization.

PURPOSE: Syncope is a perplexing problem for which hospital admission and readmission are contemplated but outcomes remain uncertain. Our purpose was to determine the incidence of admissions and readmissions for syncope and compare associated conditions, in-hospital outcomes, and resource utilization. METHODS: The 2005-2011 California Statewide Inpatient Database was utilized. Patients of age ≥18 years admitted under International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 780.2 ("syncope or collapse") were selected. Records with a primary discharge diagnosis of syncope were classified as primary syncope. Primary outcome was mortality and secondary outcome measures were cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, discharge disposition, length of stay, frequency of readmission and hospital charges. RESULTS: An estimated 1.52 ± 0.02% admissions every year are related to syncope. Among admissions for syncope, in 42.1%, the cause remained unknown; 23% of syncope admissions were for recurrent episodes. The top 5 associated new diagnoses were hypokalemia (0.24%), ventricular tachycardia (0.17%), atrial fibrillation (0.16%), dehydration (0.12%), and hyponatremia (0.12%). Mortality rates are lower for primary vs secondary syncope (0.2% vs 1.4%; P <.0001). Greatest risk factors for mortality in primary syncope were pulmonary hypertension (odds ratio 12.3; 95% confidence interval, 3.34-45.04) and metastatic cancer (odds ratio 7.22; 95% confidence interval, 4.50-11.58). Major adverse events showed a decreasing trend for patients with multiple syncope admissions. Older patients and defibrillators or pacemaker recipients are admitted more often but experience negligible adverse events. Over a decade, median hospital charge for a single syncope admission has increased by 1.5 times. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a good prognosis, syncope is a frequent cause for hospitalization, particularly in the elderly. Present evaluation strategies are expensive and lack diagnostic value.

Geriatric Syncope and Cardiovascular Risk in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Syncope is a transient loss of consciousness that is caused by a brief loss in generalized cerebral blood flow. OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the background, epidemiology, etiologies, evaluation, and disposition considerations of geriatric patients with syncope, with a focus on cardiovascular risk. DISCUSSION: Although syncope is one of the most common symptoms in elderly patients presenting to the emergency department, syncope causes in geriatric patients can present differently than in younger populations, and the underlying etiology is often challenging to discern. History, physical examination, and electrocardiography (ECG) have the greatest utility in evaluating syncope. Additional testing should be guided by history and physical examination. There are multiple scoring tools developed to aid in management and these are reviewed in the article. Common predictors that would indicate a need for further work-up include a history of cardiac or valvular disease (i.e., ventricular dysrhythmia, congestive heart failure), abnormal ECG, anemia or severe volume depletion (i.e., from a gastrointestinal bleed), syncope while supine or with effort, report of palpitations or chest pain, persistent abnormal vital signs, or family history of sudden death. With advancing age, cardiovascular morbidity plays a more frequent and important role in the etiology of syncope. CONCLUSIONS: The syncope work-up should be tailored to the patient's presentation. Disposition should be based on the results of the initial evaluation and risk factors for adverse outcomes.

Transthoracic echocardiogram in syncope patients with normal initial evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the low diagnostic yield of echocardiogra0, it is often used in the evaluation of syncope. This study determined whether patients without abnormalities in the initial evaluation benefit from transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and the clinical factors predicting an abnormal TTE. METHODS: This study enrolled 241 patients presenting to the emergency department with syncope. The TTE results were analyzed based on risk factors suggesting cardiogenic syncope in the initial evaluation. RESULTS: Of the 115 patients with at least one risk factor, 97 underwent TTE and 27 (27.8%) had TTE abnormalities. In comparison, of the 126 patients without risk factors, 47 underwent TTE and only 1 (2.1%) had TTE abnormalities. Significantly different factors between patients with normal and abnormal TTE findings were entered in a multiple logistic regression analysis, which yielded age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02-1.15; p=0.006], an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) (aOR, 7.44; 95% CI, 1.77-31.26; p=0.010), and a brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level of >100pg/mL (aOR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.21-5.73; p=0.011) as independent predictors of TTE abnormalities. The cutoff value of age predicting an abnormal TTE was 59.0years (area under the curve, 0.777; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: A patient who is older than 59years or has an abnormal ECG or an elevated BNP level may benefit from TTE. Otherwise, TTE should be deferred in patients with no risk factors in the initial evaluation.

The Cost-Effective Evaluation of Syncope.

Syncope is a common clinical problem that carries a high socioeconomic burden. A structured approach in the evaluation of syncope with special emphasis on a detailed history, comprehensive physical examination that includes orthostatic vital signs, and an electrocardiogram, proves to be the most cost-effective approach. The need for additional testing and hospital admission should be based on the results of the initial evaluation and use of risk-stratification tools that help identify those syncope patients at highest risk for poor outcomes.

Syncope in the young athlete: Assessment of prognosis in subjects with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Syncope is a common but concerning event in young athletes. Although mostly due to benign reflex causes, syncope may be arrhythmic and precede sudden cardiac death. Efforts must therefore be made to distinguish post-exertional syncope from syncope during exercise, which can be an ominous sign of a possible underlying heart disease, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Prevention requires cooperation between physician and athlete, in order to identify individuals at risk and to protect them from sudden death. Solving this diagnostic dilemma may lead to recommendations for athletes to be cleared to play or disqualified from competitive sports, and presents challenging and controversial decisions to the health care provider that can prove difficult to implement. Although exercise contributes to physical and psychological well-being, there are insufficient data to indicate whether an athlete with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagnosed after a syncopal episode can safely resume competitive physical activity. The purpose of this study was to review the literature on syncope in young athletes and its relationship to individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in order to enable accurate assessment of prognosis and the possibility of resuming competitive sports.

Regional Implementation of a Pediatric Cardiology Syncope Algorithm Using Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plans (SCAMPS) Methodology.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric syncope is common. Cardiac causes are rarely found. We describe and assess a pragmatic approach to these patients first seen by a pediatric cardiologist in the New England region, using Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plans (SCAMPs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Ambulatory patients aged 7 to 21 years initially seen for syncope at participating New England Congenital Cardiology Association practices over a 2.5-year period were evaluated using a SCAMP. Findings were iteratively analyzed and the care pathway was revised. The vast majority (85%) of the 1254 patients had typical syncope. A minority had exercise-related or more problematic symptoms. Guideline-defined testing identified one patient with cardiac syncope. Syncope Severity Scores correlated well between physician and patient perceived symptoms. Orthostatic vital signs were of limited use. Largely incidental findings were seen in 10% of ECGs and 11% of echocardiograms. The 10% returning for follow-up, by design, reported more significant symptoms, but did not have newly recognized cardiac disease. Iterative analysis helped refine the approach. CONCLUSIONS: SCAMP methodology confirmed that the vast majority of children referred to the outpatient pediatric cardiology setting had typical low-severity neurally mediated syncope that could be effectively evaluated in a single visit using minimal resources. A simple scoring system can help triage patients into treatment categories. Prespecified criteria permitted the effective diagnosis of the single patient with a clear cardiac etiology. Patients with higher syncope scores still have a very low risk of cardiac disease, but may warrant attention.