Syncope (T-LOC) Management Units: The Italian Model

Abstract

Various models of care have been developed in order to improve the management of transient loss of consciousness (T-LOC)/syncope (see Chapter 9). Guidelines have also been assessed in several studies. Most of these care models were restricted to patients referred urgently for syncope to the emergency department. In general, a considerable improvement in diagnostic yield and cost effectiveness (i.e., cost per reliable diagnosis) was achieved in comparison to conventional practice. Nevertheless, these models have not been widely adopted and their implementation in clinical practice and effectiveness are largely unknown.