Can a pneumothorax break your heart?

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or apical ballooning is a condition characterized by transitory left ventricular dysfunction, affecting commonly postmenopausal females after foregoing acute emotional or physical stress. We report a case of a 63 year old female presenting with severe dyspnea and right-sided...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical journal of Indonesia 2015-03, Vol.24 (1), p.55-8
Main Authors: Mavridis, Stylianos, Gnauk, Hans-Georg, Horn, Silvio, Adeberg, Peter, Schumacher, Martina, Wagner, Roland H.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or apical ballooning is a condition characterized by transitory left ventricular dysfunction, affecting commonly postmenopausal females after foregoing acute emotional or physical stress. We report a case of a 63 year old female presenting with severe dyspnea and right-sided secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, initially treated with tube thoracostomy. Despite the fact that pneumothorax resolved, shortness of breath persisted and due to ST-segment elevation and increased Troponin I levels, she was admitted to cardiac catheterization. A significant coronary stenosis was ruled out and the diagnosis of a Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was established. Electrocardiographic findings were normalized within three days and attributable to prolonged air leakage. A thoracoscopic apex resection followed by a partial parietal pleurectomy was performed. Although Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare syndrome, it should always be considered as a potential cardiac complication of a pneumothorax.
ISSN:0853-1773
2252-8083
DOI:10.13181/mji.v24i1.1179