We describe the case of a patient with malignant vasodepressive cough syncope. We demonstrated a vaso-vagal mechanism related to left vagal neuritis, by means of laryngoscopy and laryngeal electromyography. The condition resolved with steroid therapy.
Learning points: Left vagal neuritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recent onset repetitive loss of consciousness, in particular if cough related.Steroids were used to successfully treat recent onset cough-related syncope.Relatively simple trials of drug therapy can sometimes avoid intensive investigations; in our case, the use of a systemic steroid would probably have avoided many radiological and endoscopic examinations.
Keywords: Syncope; cough; neuritis; vagal.