The Medicine Forum

Article Title

Syncope

Authors

Melissa Gitman, MD, CM, Thomas Jefferson University HospitalFollow

Abstract

A 45 year old white female rising from her seat to give a lecture at the Philadelphia Convention Center suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness. An automated external defibrillator device, on hand at the conference, demonstrated her rhythm to be in ventricular fibrillation. She was subsequently defibrillated and intubated in the field yet was unresponsive on arrival. Her husband related that his wife’s past medical history was significant for hypothyroidism and a questionable diagnosis of lupus. Her medications included levothyroxine and Pycnogenal, a popular herbal supplement. She had no known drug allergies. The patient had no known tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drug abuse and works as an employee of federal government.

Recommended Citation

Gitman, MD, CM, Melissa (2007) "Syncope," The Medicine Forum: Vol. 9, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29046/TMF.009.1.005
Available at: https://jdc.jefferson.edu/tmf/vol9/iss1/6