[Syncope--algorithms for emergency medicine]

Syncope is a common symptom in the emergency department. While most causes are benign and self-limiting not requiring extensive in-hospital evaluation, others are potentially severe. The optimal evaluation of patients with syncope follows a risk-adapted diagnostic algorithm in order to exclude life-threatening conditions and to identify those with high risk for further deterioration, such as structural heart diseases requiring further diagnostic evaluation. Low risk patients can be discharged without further extensive diagnostic work-up. This article presents an algorithm for the diagnostics of syncope in accordance with current guidelines.