A rare cause of syncope: cough

Z. Ariturk*, H. Alici, M. Cakici, V. Davutoglu

*Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbak?r (Turkey)

Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep (Turkey)

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• Emergency Medicine

Background: Syncope is a transient loss of consciousness, associated with loss of postural tone, with spontaneous return to baseline neurologic function. Syncope is a common complaint in the Emergency Department.

Objectives: Cough syncope occurs immediately after coughing. Cough syncope rapidly recovers in 1-2 second. Although cough syncope has been classified in vasovagal syncope, it may differ from pathogenetic mechanism. Physicians should be aware of this easily recognizable cough induced syncope.

Case Report: We present a 59-year-old obese man was referred for clinical evaluation because of recurrent syncope without seizures following coughing who developed cough syncope.

Conclusions: Physicians should be aware of this easily recognizable cough induced syncope in all subjects admitted with syncope and should screen possible underlying sources of cough.

Corresponding Author: Zuhal Ariturk, MD; e-mail: zariturk@yahoo.com