Prevention of syncope during IUD placement, a quality improvement project

Abstract

Syncope is a common experience that patients within the medical community experience. The syncope and the sensation of syncope is secondary to a vagal response that causes excessive pooling in the peripheral vasculature leading to an overall decrease in blood flow to the cerebral tissue. This typically presents during medical procedures including cervical or uterine biopsies, pap smears, blood draws, injections, or seeing the site of blood. This presentation is usually diaphoresis, facial pallor, dilated pupils, and fatigue. The treatment should include having the patient recognizing these symptoms and to have them isometrically contract their extremities and other counter pressure maneuvers. The efficacy of these symptoms were studied which found that recurrent syncope was decreased (32 vs 51 percent), via patient education and early physician recognition.