ICP Monograph Vertigo and Syncope

Vertigo is a sensation of spinning, either of oneself or the environment, while syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness. While often distinct, vertigo and syncope can occur together, a phenomenon sometimes called "vestibular syncope", where a severe vertigo spell triggers a cardiovascular response leading to fainting.

Disorders of balance and consciousness remain a diagnostic challenge due to their diverse aetiologies and overlapping presentations. Vertigo alone accounts for a substantial proportion of outpatient consultations across multiple specialties, while syncope, often under-recognised, can stem from a wide range of cardiovascular, neurological, and systemic causes. For the clinician, deciphering these symptoms requires not only a firm grasp of anatomy and physiology, but also a structured clinical approach.

This book provides practitioners with a comprehensive yet practical guide to these common but complex presentations.

The second edition features updated content and reorganised chapters, offering insights into vestibular structure and function, methods of clinical evaluation, central and peripheral vestibular disorders, and current management strategies.

New topics have been added covering multimodal sensory integration of balance, eye movements in vertigo, vertigo subtypes, and vertigo in children.

Lakshmi Narasimhan Ranganathan MD DM DNB (Internal Medicine) DNB (Neurology)
Professor, Department of Neurology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India