Complications
Complication
Timeframe
Likelihood
short term
high
A particular concern in older and infirm patients due to recurrent falls. In one meta-analysis, injury due to vasovagal syncope occurred in one third of patients; the rate of major injury was 13.9%.[89]
Falls due to syncope can result in significant trauma and should be evaluated as clinically warranted.
short term
medium
Often unrecognized initially but may account for later onset of neurologic symptoms, including diminished mental status.
The presence of neurologic signs/symptoms may necessitate a visit to the emergency department, where a CT scan of the head is ordered to evaluate for a cerebral hemorrhage or subdural hematoma.
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