Cor Vasa 2007, 49(10):378-382 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2007.132

A case report of transient left ventricular apical ballooning

Vladimír Kaučák, Jan Mrózek, Petr Černý

II. interní-kardiovaskulární oddělení, Městská nemocnice Ostrava, Ostrava, Česká republika

Transient left ventricular apical ballooning (also known as emotional myocardial stunning, Tako-tsubo syndrome, ampulla cardiomyopathy) is a relatively novel, not well-characterized syndrome of transient systolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, characterized by extensive systolic LV dysfunction involving dyssynergy (akinesia or even dyskinesia) of apical to mid-LV segments without significant coronary stenosis, and with clinical presentation mimicking acute coronary syndrome. It predominantly affects elderly females and is preceded by emotional or physical stress, or aggravation of a serious somatic disease. In this case report, we describe the case of a patient hospitalized in our medical department who met the diagnostic criteria for this syndrome. The syndrome is discussed in terms of its epidemiology, clinical presentation, ECG changes, invasive and non-invasive imaging studies, therapy and prognosis.

Keywords: Transient left ventricular apical ballooning; Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy; Ampulla cardiomyopathy

Published: October 1, 2007  Show citation