Premium
The Yield of Computed Tomography of the Head Among Patients Presenting With Syncope: A Systematic Review
Author(s) -
Viau J. Alexander,
Chaudry Hina,
Hannigan Ailish,
Boutet Mish,
Mukarram Muhammad,
Thiruganasambandamoorthy Venkatesh
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
academic emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.221
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1553-2712
pISSN - 1069-6563
DOI - 10.1111/acem.13568
Subject(s) - medicine , syncope (phonology) , confidence interval , meta analysis , computed tomography , stroke (engine) , pediatrics , radiology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Background Overuse of head computed tomography ( CT ) for syncope has been reported. However, there is no literature synthesis on this overuse. We undertook a systematic review to determine the use and yield of head CT and risk factors for serious intracranial conditions among syncope patients. Methods We searched Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases from inception until June 2017. Studies including adult syncope patients with part or all of patients undergoing CT head were included. We excluded case reports, reviews, letters, and pediatric studies. Two independent reviewers screened the articles and collected data on CT head use, diagnostic yield (proportion with acute hemorrhage, tumors or infarct), and risk of bias. We report pooled percentages, I 2 , and Cochran's Q‐test. Results Seventeen articles with 3,361 syncope patients were included. In eight ED studies ( n = 1,669), 54.4% (95% confidence interval [ CI ] = 34.9%–73.2%) received head CT with a 3.8% (95% CI = 2.6%–5.1%) diagnostic yield and considerable heterogeneity. In six in‐hospital studies ( n = 1,289), 44.8% (95% CI = 26.4%–64.1%) received head CT with a 1.2% (95% CI = 0.5%–2.2%) yield and no heterogeneity. In two articles, all patients had CT (yield 2.3%) and the third enrolled patients ≥ 65 years old (yield 7.7%). Abnormal neurologic findings, age ≥ 65 years, trauma, warfarin use, and seizure/stroke history were identified as risk factors. The quality of all articles referenced was strong. Conclusion More than half of patients with syncope underwent CT head with a diagnostic yield of 1.1% to 3.8%. A future large prospective study is needed to develop a robust risk tool.