Stokes-Adams syndrome
Noun: - A medical condition: Stokes-Adams syndrome is a disorder characterized by recurrent, sudden episodes of fainting (loss of consciousness). These attacks are caused by a blockage or severe delay in the electrical impulse that regulates the heartbeat, leading to a temporary pause in effective heart contractions.
This term is used exclusively in medical contexts to diagnose and describe a specific cardiac condition. - The patient's history of unexplained fainting led the cardiologist to suspect Stokes-Adams syndrome. - Treatment for Stokes-Adams syndrome often involves the implantation of a cardiac pacemaker.
- The syndrome is also clinically referred to as "complete heart block with syncope" or "atrioventricular block syncope."
- It is named after two physicians: William Stokes and Robert Adams, who described the condition in the 19th century. This is an example of an eponym in medical terminology.
- Adams-Stokes syndrome: A less common variant of the term, with the names in reverse order. The meaning is identical.
- Heart block (noun): The general condition of impaired electrical conduction in the heart, which can cause Stokes-Adams syndrome.
- Syncope (noun): The medical term for fainting or temporary loss of consciousness, which is the primary symptom.
- Complete heart block syncope
- Atrioventricular block with syncopal attacks
This term has only one specific meaning within cardiology and clinical medicine. It does not have general, idiomatic, or phrasal verb uses outside this technical field.
- recurrent sudden attacks of unconsciousness caused by impaired conduction of the impulse that regulates the heartbeat