American Academy of Neurology
View all recommendations from this societyReleased February 21, 2013
Don’t perform imaging of the carotid arteries for simple syncope without other neurologic symptoms.
Occlusive carotid artery disease does not cause fainting but rather causes focal neurologic deficits such as unilateral weakness. Thus, carotid imaging will not identify the cause of the fainting and increases cost. Fainting is a frequent complaint, affecting 40% of people during their lifetime.
These items are provided solely for informational purposes and are not intended as a substitute for consultation with a medical professional. Patients with any specific questions about the items on this list or their individual situation should consult their physician.
How The List Was Created
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) established aChoosing Wisely® Working Group to develop its list of recommendations. Members of this group were selected to broadly represent varying practice settings and neurological subspecialties. Neurologists with methodological expertise in evidence-based medicine and practice guideline development were also included. The working group solicited recommendations from AAN members, which were then rated based upon their judgments of harm and benefit that would result based upon compliance with the recommendation. Based on committee voting and a literature review, candidate recommendations were sent to relevant AAN sections, committees, specialty societies and patient advocacy groups for review and comment. The working group reviewed this feedback and voted on the final Top Five recommendations, which were approved by the AAN Practice Committee and Board of Directors.
AAN’s disclosure and conflict of interest policy can be found at www.aan.com.
Sources
Strickberger SA, Benson DW, Biaggioni I, Callans DJ, Cohen MI, Ellenbogen KA, Epstein AE, Friedman P, Goldberger J, Heidenreich PA, Klein GJ, Knight BP, Morillo CA, Myerburg RJ, Sila CA. AHA/ACCF scientific statement on the evaluation of Syncope: From the American Heart Association councils on clinical cardiology, cardiovascular nursing, cardiovascular disease in the young, and stroke, and the quality of care and outcomes research interdisciplinary working group; and the American College of Cardiology Foundation in collaboration with the Heart Rhythm Society. J Am Coll Cardiol [Internet]. 2006 January 17;47(2):473-84.
The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Syncope of the European Society of Cardiology. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope (version 2009). Eur Heart J. [Internet]. 2009 Aug 27Nov;30(21):2631-2671.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Transient loss of consciousness (‘Blackouts’) Management in adults and young people. [Internet]. London: Royal College of Physicians (UK); 2010 [cited 2012 Oct 25]. Available from: publications.nice.org.uk/transient-loss-of-consciousness-blackouts-management-in-adults-and-young-people-cg109/notes-on-the-scope-of-the-guidance.
