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AdamsStokes syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

7/17/15, 21:00

AdamsStokes syndrome
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

StokesAdams syndrome (alternative


eponyms include GerbeziusMorgagni-AdamsStokes syndrome
and Gerbec-Morgagni-Adams
Stokes syndrome)[1] refers to a
sudden, transient episode of syncope,
occasionally featuring seizures.
Named after two Irish physicians,
Robert Adams (17911875)[2] and

AdamsStokes syndrome
Classification and external resources
ICD-10

I45.9
(http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2015/en#/I45.9)

ICD-9-CM 426.9 (http://www.icd9data.com/getICD9Code.ashx?


icd9=426.9)
DiseasesDB 12443 (http://www.diseasesdatabase.com/ddb12443.htm)

MeSH
D000219 (https://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2015/MB_cgi?
William Stokes (18041877),[3] the
first description of the syndrome was
field=uid&term=D000219)
published in 1717 by the Carniolan
physician of Slovene descent Marko Gerbec, which was 44 years after its publication quoted by Giovanni
Battista Morgagni.

Contents
1 Signs and symptoms
2 Diagnosis
3 Causes
4 Treatment
5 Prognosis
6 References

Signs and symptoms


Prior to an attack, a patient may become pale, their heart rhythm experiences a temporary pause, and collapse
may follow. Normal periods of unconsciousness last approximately thirty seconds; if seizures are present, they
will consist of twitching after 1520 seconds. Breathing continues normally throughout the attack, and so on
recovery the patient becomes flushed as the heart rapidly pumps the oxygenated blood from the pulmonary beds
into a systemic circulation which has become dilated due to hypoxia.[4]
As with any syncopal episode that results from a cardiac dysrhythmia, the faints do not depend on the patient's
position. If they occur during sleep, the presenting symptom may simply be feeling hot and flushed on
waking.[4]

Diagnosis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdamsStokes_syndrome

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AdamsStokes syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

7/17/15, 21:00

Stokes-Adams attacks may be diagnosed from the history, with paleness prior to the attack and flushing after it
particularly characteristic. The ECG will show asystole, an AV block, or ventricular fibrillation during the
attacks.

Causes
The attacks are caused by lack of cardiac output due to antimony poisoning, cardiac asystole, heart block, Lev's
disease or ventricular fibrillation. The resulting lack of blood flow to the brain is responsible for the faint.

Treatment
Initial treatment can be medical, involving the use of drugs like isoprenaline (Isuprel) and epinephrine
(adrenaline). Definitive treatment is surgical, involving the insertion of a pacemaker most likely one with
sequential pacing such as a DDI mode as opposed to the older VVI mechanisms,[4] and the doctor may arrange
the patient to undergo electrocardiography to confirm this type of treatment.[5]

Prognosis
If undiagnosed (or untreated), StokesAdams attacks have a 50% mortality within a year of the first episode.
The prognosis following treatment is very good.

References
1. synd/1158 (http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/1158.html) at Who Named It?
2. R. Adams. Cases of Diseases of the Heart, Accompanied with Pathological Observations. Dublin Hospital Reports,
1827, 4: 353453.
3. W. Stokes. Observations on some cases of permanently slow pulse. Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science, 1846,
2: 7385.
4. Katz, Jason; Patel, Chetan (2006). Parkland Manual of Inpatient Medicine. Dallas, TX: FA Davis. p. 903.
5. Chart 63: "Faintness and Fainting", page 161, ISBN 0-86318-864-8

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Categories: Cardiac dysrhythmia
This page was last modified on 20 June 2015, at 05:46.
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