vascular disorders causing syncope

Last reviewed 01/2018

Causes of arterial occlusion which lead to syncope include:

  • vascular insufficiency:
    • TIA, especially of the vertebrobasilar arteries
    • subclavian steal syndrome
    • aortic dissection

  • external compression of blood flow:
    • strangulation
    • Klippel-Feil syndrome:
      • syncopal attacks may be precipitated by sudden rotatory movements of the head