[Syncope in the emergencry room: Differential diagnosis and risk stratification]

Syncope is one of the most common reasons of emergency admission and hospitalisation. Management of syncope remains challenging for the medical staff as there are a multitude of possible etiologies ranging from benign to potentially life-threatening causes. Historically, 30-40% of patients presenting for syncope are hospitalized for further exploration, resulting in a significant cost to health care. The purpose of this article is to clarify the etiologies of syncope and to stratify their risk for a better managment.