Successful treatment of cardiogenic shock due to Takotsubo syndrome with implantation of a temporary microaxial left ventricular assist device in transaxillary approach.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiogenic shock (CS) can occur in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). As TTS has received increasing attention and has been more closely researched, several aspects of the pathogenesis have been identified, particularly that an excessive release of catecholamines plays an important role. Nevertheless, evidence on specific therapy concepts is still lacking. As a result, TTS with severe hemodynamic instability and low cardiac output creates unique challenges, and mechanical circulatory support is needed with as few inotropic drugs as possible. METHODS: We present a 77-year-old female patient who underwent minimally invasive surgical mitral valve replacement. After an uneventful course, the patient developed acute heart failure eleven days after surgery. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a new onset of TTS. The patient needed left ventricular venting and full haemodynamic flow. We successfully implanted a microaxial left ventricular assist device (Impella 5.5) using the transaxillary approach. The haemodynamic situation stabilised immediately. The patient was weaned and the Impella 5.5 was explanted after five days. CONCLUSION: We present the first-in-man implantation of a transaxillary Impella 5.5 in a patient with TTS. The patient benefitted from Impella 5.5 therapy with full haemodynamic support and venting of the left ventricle.

[Left Ventricular Plasty for Left Ventricular Aneurysm Following Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy].

An 82-years-old woman was admitted with sudden chest pain. Coronary angiography did not reveal any significant stenosis, but left ventriculography showed akinesis and ballooning of the apex with a hyperkinetic basal segment, suggestive of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. She suffered intractable heart failure, and laboratory data, electrocardiogram signs of ST-segment elevation and left ventricular( LV) apical dysfunction failed to show improvement. LV plasty was performed on 106th day after the onset because of aneurysmal change of the left ventricular apex myocardium, unremitting sanguineous pericardial effusion, and anemia. She had a good postoperative course and end-diastolic ventricular volume index was remarkably reduced from 144 to 55 ml/m2. She discharged home on the 38th postoperative day.

Takotsubo Syndrome in Neurologic Disease.

Transient cardiac dysfunction, or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a well-known complication among patients presenting with neurologic insult, who are described as having takotsubo syndrome. This condition is commonly associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage but has also been described in patients after cerebral surgery or in those with ischemic stroke, seizure, and traumatic brain injury. Current evidence suggests that cardiac dysfunction in these patients is a result of increases in catecholamines that are induced by supraphysiologic levels of sympathetic activity. The cardiac injury is typically reversible and carries a good prognosis, but secondary complications may arise if the diagnosis is not recognized early.

Pipeline Embolization in Patients with Posterior Circulation Subarachnoid Hemorrhages: Is Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy a Limiting Factor?

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic vascular lesions in the posterior cerebral circulation such as ruptured aneurysms and dissections can be challenging to treat. Flow diversion has become an important off-label option, but few studies have analyzed the safety of these devices in this setting. Using an international, multicenter cohort, we reviewed posterior circulation subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients treated with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) in the acute setting and assessed the incidence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM). METHODS: Eleven neurovascular centers were queried to identify cases of posterior circulation aneurysms or dissections treated with the PED in the acute setting of SAH. Among those, 5 centers had cases that matched the inclusion criteria. The following variables were evaluated: demographics, the location and morphology of the aneurysm, the clinical presentation, the specific form of treatment, complications including the development of TCM, antiplatelet medication regimen, and follow-up time. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients were treated with PED after posterior circulation SAH, and 13% of these developed TCM. The lesions were the result of hemorrhagic intracranial dissection (8 patients), ruptured pseudoaneurysm (3), ruptured saccular aneurysm (7), blister aneurysm (4), and fusiform aneurysm (1). Ninety-one percent of patients had complete or near-complete aneurysm occlusion on follow-up imaging. Five patients died in the perioperative period; 16/18 survivors had a favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: We describe an unexpectedly high incidence of TCM after the placement of PEDs in patients with posterior circulation SAH in our large case series. Further studies will be needed to elucidate possible causes.

Abnormal coronary vasoreactivity in transient left ventricular apical ballooning (tako-tsubo) syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The exact etiology and pathophysiologic mechanisms of tako-tsubo syndrome (TTS) remain controversial. OBJECTIVE: To further evaluate the abnormal coronary vasoreactivity and its possible anatomical substrate in TTS. METHODS: We studied 47 patients (46 women; age 67±12years) who underwent diagnostic cardiac catheterization and evaluation of coronary vasoreactivity by sequential acetylcholine (Ach), nitroglycerine and adenosine testing with angiographic and intracoronary pressure-Doppler flow monitoring. Coronary artery wall morphology was also evaluated by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging in 45 vessels of 43 patients. RESULTS: Abnormal coronary vasoconstriction to Ach stimulation was elicited in 40 patients (85%) involving the LAD artery and its branches in 39 (83%). Abnormal microvascular function was seen in 39 (83%) patients. Overall, hyperemic microvascular resistance index (HMR) was higher and Doppler coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) was lower in the LAD artery territory as compared to the reference territories (2.64±1.23 vs 2.05±0.56; p=0.008 and 1.95±0.7 vs 2.3±0.6; p=0.018, respectively). IVUS revealed no plaque rupture, dissection or thrombosis but occult plaque formation and myocardial bridging were found as a possible anatomical substrate of endothelial dysfunction in 67% and 48.8% patients respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A global failure of coronary vasomotor function was demonstrated in most TTS patients. These findings implicate abnormal vasoconstrictive response to the activation of the sympathetic system as a potential mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial stunning in TTS. PERSPECTIVES: Competency in medical knowledge: Abnormal coronary vasoconstriction secondary to endothelial dysfunction may actively contribute to the clinical manifestation of acute coronary syndromes in patients with non-obstructive coronary disease. Translational outlook 1: TTS patients reveal a global failure of vasomotor function with both vasoconstrictive response to acetylcholine and increased hyperemic microvascular resistances in the territory of myocardial stunning. They may also show occult coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial bridging as the anatomic substrates of endothelial dysfunction. Translational outlook 2: The cardiac phenotype of TTS includes a high prevalence of coronary vasomotor disturbances. These findings implicate abnormal vasoconstrictive response to the activation of the sympathetic system as a potential mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of TTS in post-menopausal women. Thus, a systematic evaluation of coronary vasoreactivity could better characterize the syndrome.

Perioperative approach of patient with takotsubo syndrome / Abordagem perioperatória de doente com síndrome de takotsubo

Abstract Introduction: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a stress-induced cardiomyopathy. It is characterized by an acute onset of symptoms and electrocardiographic abnormalities mimicking an acute coronary syndrome in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. Any anesthetic-surgical event corresponds to a stressful situation, so the anesthetic management of patients with TCM requires special care throughout the perioperative period. We describe the anesthetic management of a patient with a confirmed diagnosis of TCM undergoing segmental colectomy. Case report: Female patient, 55 years old, ASA III, with history of takotsubo syndrome diagnosed 2 years ago, scheduled for segmental colectomy. The patient, without other changes in preoperative evaluation, underwent general anesthesia associated with lumbar epidural and remained hemodynamically stable during the 2 h of surgery. After a brief stay in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, she was transferred to the Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU), with epidural analgesia for postoperative period. Conclusion: TCM is a rare disease which true pathophysiology remains unclear, as well as the most appropriate anesthetic-surgical strategy. In this case, through a preventive approach, with close monitoring and the lowest possible stimulus, all the perioperative period was uneventful. Because it is a rare disease, this report could help to raise awareness about TCM.

Resumo Introdução: A miocardiopatia takotsubo (MT) é uma miocardiopatia induzida pelo estresse. Caracteriza-se por um início agudo de sintomas e alterações eletrocardiográficas que mimetizam uma síndrome coronária aguda na ausência de doença arterial coronária obstrutiva. Qualquer evento anestésico-cirúrgico corresponde a uma situação de estresse, pelo que a abordagem anestésica dos doentes com MT exige um cuidado especial em todo o período perioperatório. Descrevemos a abordagem anestésica de uma doente com diagnóstico confirmado de MT submetida a colectomia segmentar. Caso clínico: Paciente do sexo feminino, 55 anos, ASA III, com antecedentes de síndrome de takotsubo diagnosticada havia dois anos, encaminhada para colectomia segmentar. A paciente, sem outras alterações na avaliação pré-operatória, foi submetida a anestesia geral associada a epidural lombar e manteve-se hemodinamicamente estável durante as duas horas do procedimento cirúrgico. Após uma breve permanência na Unidade de Cuidados Pós-Anestésicos foi transferida para a Unidade de Cuidados Intermédios (UCIM) com analgesia peridural para o pós-operatório. Conclusão: A MT é uma doença rara, cuja verdadeira fisiopatologia continua por esclarecer, assim como a estratégia anestésico-cirúrgica mais apropriada. Nesse caso, por causa de uma abordagem preventiva, com monitoração rigorosa e o menor estímulo possível, todo o perioperatório decorreu sem intercorrências. Sendo uma doença rara, o seu relato poderá contribuir para o avanço do conhecimento sobre a MT.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy secondary to spontaneous right-sided pneumothorax.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a unique type of cardiomyopathy characterised by left ventricular systolic dysfunction in association with stressful conditions. Patients with this condition usually present with chest pain and dyspnoea, and the presentation can mimic acute coronary syndrome. We present a case of a woman aged 58 years who presented with progressive dyspnoea and cough. Her initial evaluation was suggestive of acute myocardial infarction with elevated serum troponin T and ST segment elevation. Her chest radiograph showed a large right-sided pneumothorax, which was treated with chest tube insertion. Coronary angiography and echocardiogram did not show any evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease but did show a large area of akinesis consistent with TCM. The patient was managed medically with supportive care. Her pneumothorax resolved, and her follow-up echocardiogram also showed improvement. The association between pneumothorax and TCM is rare, and only four other cases have been reported so far in the English literature.