Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of introducing a European Society of Cardiology guideline-based Integrated Care Plan (ICP) for Syncope on hospital admissions and referral patterns to an outpatient Syncope Management Unit, of patients presenting to an Emergency Department (ED) with a syncopal episode and to determine the underlying causes of syncope. ⋯ The introduction of an ICP for syncope was not associated with any cases with potential adverse outcomes being lost to follow-up and resulted in increased referral rates to the syncope unit. However, hospitalization rates for syncope remain high, and a large number of patients requiring early outpatient assessment were not referred. There remains a need to develop further interventions to guide appropriate and safe syncope management in the ED.