Transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) is defined as abrupt onset of apparent loss of consciousness. After a short duration (of a few seconds to minutes), there is spontaneous and complete recovery. TLOC can be due to a traumatic cause, such as a concussion, or to nontraumatic etiologies, such as syncope, generalized epileptic seizures, functional (or “psychogenic”) “pseudoseizures” and “pseudosyncopes”, and rare miscellaneous disorders that may include vertebrobasilar transient ischemic attacks, the subclavian steal syndrome, cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness, metabolic disorders (e.g. hypoglycemia) or “drop attacks”. TLOCs are characterized by 1) loss of normal motor control with either flaccidity or stiffness, 2) loss of postural control with falls, and 3) unresponsiveness and amnesia for the event. Although sympthoms of TLOC are well known, there is still a need in improving the level of differential-diagnosis of this pathology.
