A 17-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by a friend after a syncopal episode during a workout. He has been spending 3-4 hours of running to prepare for a marathone which he felt light-headed and then passed out after completing the session. He is oriented to person and place, but not time; he appears irritable. His temperature is 40.5°C (104.9°F), pulse is 118/min, respirations are 24/min, and blood pressure is 95/70 mm Hg. The patient is profusely sweating and is confused. His pupils are equal and reactive to light. Neurologic examination shows no focal findings. Which of the following is the most likely mechanism of this patient's syncope?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Exercise-associated collapse typically occurs after intense exercise in well-conditioned athletes.  It is characterized by loss of postural tone or syncope immediately following the cessation of exercise and occurs due to impaired venous return to the heart.

A 17-Year-Old Boy Is Brought to the Emergency Department by a Friend