Cough syncope caused by sinus arrest in a patient with sick sinus syndrome

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1989 Jun;12(6):883-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1989.tb05024.x.

Abstract

Cough syncope is a syndrome in which dizziness or syncope occurs after prolonged bouts of cough. This paper presents a case of 63-year-old man with recurrent dizziness and syncope. The 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram and intracardiac electrogram showed sinus node dysfunction with sinus arrest, both spontaneous and inducible by voluntary cough. Sinus arrest was sometimes associated with dizziness. A permanent VVI pacemaker was implanted and no further cough syncope has occurred. We suggest that sinus arrest may play a role as a mechanism of cough syncope in a patient with sick sinus syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cough / complications*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Pacemaker, Artificial
  • Sick Sinus Syndrome / complications*
  • Sinoatrial Node / physiopathology*
  • Syncope / etiology*