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Fainting |
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Predisposing factors: pain, anxiety, fatigue, fasting, high temperature Characteristic signs and symptoms: ¨ Dizziness ¨ Nausea ¨ Pale, cold and clammy skin ¨ Slow, thin and thready pulse which may rebound to become rapid ¨ Loss of consciousness with collapse
Prevention: where possible ensure that the patient has eaten before treatment under local anaesthesia, lay the patient supine before any injection and alleviate any pain and anxieties.
Management: ¨ Lay the patient flat or lower the head below the level of the heart ¨ Loosen clothing ¨ Monitor pulse ¨ If bradycardia persists with no evidence of recovery to rapid full pulse consider a small dose of atropine (100 micrograms IV)
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Fainting (vaso-vagal syncope) is innocuous providing it is recognized. It is the most common cause of sudden loss of consciousness. |