A woman experiences syncope after hearing that her son was severely injured. She becomes pale and collapses to the ground without injuring herself. On waking, she states that she feels very warm. She denies any other symptoms. There are no findings on examination. What caused her loss of consciousness?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is a classic description of vasodepressor or vasovagal syncope with the feeling of warmth, while bystanders note paleness. The lack of injury is also helpful because she has maintained her protective reflexes. Injuring oneself can indicate that a cardiac origin for syncope may be present. Micturition syncope occurs with urination, and there are no postural changes mentioned, making postural hypotension unlikely.

A Woman Experiences Syncope After Hearing That Her Son Was