[Syncope, falls and vertigo]

Abstract

Dizziness/vertigo, falls and syncope are among the most common reasons for seeking medical care. As clinical entities they share common pathogenetic and clinical features and differences. The diagnostic work-up can often be initiated in a general practitioner's or internist's practice and, if necessary, completed in an interdisciplinary emergency unit. Simple diagnostic tools can be used in an outpatient setting to obtain valuable diagnostic information. First and foremost, it is important to differentiate between prognostically favorable clinical events and potentially serious disease. In younger patients diagnostic procedures should primarily focus on potential structural cardiac disease and/or primary arrhythmia. The same applies to elderly patients in whom, however, multicausal clinical symptoms and severe complications in the case of falls are characteristic. Elderly patients frequently require the involvement of various clinical specialties to investigate a broad spectrum of potential differential diagnoses in an interdisciplinary diagnostic approach, which is not always available in practice. In the emergency unit, decisions regarding inpatient care need to be made individually. In elderly patients, inpatient care is sometimes necessary not only due to acute disease, but also in order to ensure social care. Geriatric day hospitals may be a suitable option for some of these patients.

Keywords: Algorithm, diagnostic; Differential diagnosis; Emergencies; Emergency service, hospital; Geriatrics.