Cough Syncope: Constrictive Pericarditis

An 87-year-old man with a diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis suffered from cough syncope up to 10 times per day on most days during his three-day stay at our hospital. After undergoing a series of treatments (diuretics, codeine and intravenous ceftizoxime), the patient still had a mild cough, although he did not experience any further syncopal episodes associated with coughing. Two months later, the syncopal episodes associated with coughing returned, but at a lower rate.