Takotsubo cardiomyopathy syndrome, or simply takotsubo syndrome (TTS), is a form of stress cardiomyopathy thought to be caused by excess catecholamines in association with physical or emotional stress. Providers should maintain a high index of suspicion for TTS in patients with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome, acute decompensated heart failure, substernal chest pain, or dyspnea. However, TTS is a diagnosis of exclusion, and patients should initially be evaluated and treated for other causes, such as acute myocardial infarction. Critical care transport crews may encounter patients with TTS during their primary presentation, before diagnosis, or after the formal diagnosis is made in the catheterization laboratory. Therefore, crews should be familiar with unique aspects of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of TTS. This article presents a case and provides a critical review of TTS for critical care transport clinicians.
Keyphrases
- heart failure
- acute coronary syndrome
- acute myocardial infarction
- case report
- end stage renal disease
- ejection fraction
- left ventricular
- liver failure
- newly diagnosed
- percutaneous coronary intervention
- chronic kidney disease
- peritoneal dialysis
- physical activity
- mental health
- palliative care
- stress induced
- respiratory failure
- antiplatelet therapy
- drug induced
- hepatitis b virus
- ultrasound guided
- patient reported
- aortic dissection
- sleep quality