Syncope in Children

We review a general approach to syncope in children.

Hosts:
Brian Gilberti, MD
Ellen Duncan, MD

Download Leave a Comment Tags: Cardiology, Pediatrics

Show Notes

• Initial Evaluation and Management:
  • Similar initial workup for children and adults: checking glucose levels for hypoglycemia and conducting an EKG.
  • The history and physical exam are crucial.
• Dextrose Administration in Children:
  • Explanation of the ‘rule of 50s’ for determining the appropriate dextrose solution and dosage for children.
• ECG Analysis:
  • Importance of ECG in diagnosing dysrhythmias like long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholamine polymorphic V tach, ARVD, ALCAPA, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
  • Younger children’s dependency on heart rate for cardiac output and the risk of arrhythmias in kids with congenital heart disease.

Condition Characteristic ECG Findings Congenital/Acquired Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) Prolonged QT interval Congenital/Acquired Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW) Short PR interval, Delta wave Congenital Brugada Syndrome ST elevation in V1-V3, Right bundle branch block Congenital Atrioventricular Block (AV Block) PR interval prolongation (1st degree), Missing QRS complexes (2nd & 3rd degree) Congenital/Acquired Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) Narrow QRS complexes, Absence of P waves, Tachycardia Congenital/Acquired Ventricular Tachycardia Wide QRS complexes, Tachycardia Congenital/Acquired Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD/C) Epsilon waves, V1-V3 T wave inversions, Right bundle branch block Congenital Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Left ventricular hypertrophy, Deep Q waves Congenital Pulmonary Hypertension Right ventricular hypertrophy, Right axis deviation Acquired Athlete’s Heart Sinus bradycardia, Voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy Acquired Catecholaminergic Polymorphic VT (CPVT) Bidirectional or polymorphic VT, typically normal at rest Congenital Anomalous Origin of Left Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA) May be normal, signs of ischemia or infarction in severe cases Congenital

• History Taking:
  • Key aspects include asking about syncope with exertion, syncope after being startled, and syncope after pain or emotional stress.
  • Prolonged loss of consciousness may indicate seizures, and emotional stress and pain can trigger breath-holding spells.
• Breath-Holding Spells:
  • Clarification of misconceptions about breath-holding spells, discussing their causes and characteristics, like cyanotic and pallid types.
  • Association with iron deficiency and the fact that most children outgrow these spells by age 8.
• Physical Examination and History:
  • A cardiac exam is vital, with specific signs to look for, like murmurs in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  • History can help identify the etiology of syncope, such as vasovagal responses or orthostatic hypotension.
• Vasovagal Syncope:
  • Common in kids, especially teenagers, typically presenting with a prodrome of lightheadedness, diaphoresis, and pallor.
  • Normal glucose and EKG are expected in these cases.
• Additional Lab Tests:
  • Pregnancy tests in reproductive-age women, and checking for less common causes like pulmonary