AURA PHENOMENA DURING SYNCOPE

We studied the frequency and clinical characteristics of aura phenomen a in 60 patients with cardiac and 40 subjects with vasovagal syncopes. The majority (93%) of all syncope patients recalled having experience d an aura. Aura phenomena were similar in both groups and were mostly compound auras comprising epigastric, vertiginous, visual, or somatose nsory experiences, but were more detailed in the noncardiac group. The localizing significance of auras preceding a syncope was generally po or. Although hard to distinguish from epileptic auras from their struc ture and shape, syncope-related auras lacked symptoms that are commonl y reported after epileptic seizures such as tastes, smells, deja vu ph enomena, scenic visual perceptions, and speech impairments. A detailed anamnestic exploration of auras seems worthwile in unexplained disord ers of consciousness.