“Suffocation roulette”: A case of recurrent syncope in an adolescent boy☆
Received 24 July 2002; received in revised form 26 August 2002; accepted 5 September 2002.
Abstract
We present the case of a 12-year-old boy admitted with a complaint of recurrent syncopal episodes. A careful history taking revealed the cause of the syncopal episodes to be a dangerous game played by adolescents called “suffocation roulette.” We believe that recognition of this game as a possible cause of syncopal events, together with prompt educative intervention, might prevent adolescent morbidity and mortality and also might eliminate the need for unnecessary medical investigations. [Ann Emerg Med. 2003;41:223–226.]
Department of Pediatrics, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
☆Address for reprints: Gil Z. Shlamovitz, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizmann Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel; E-mail gilshla@netvision.net.il.
ABSTRACT