Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: Broken Heart Syndrome in A Tertiary Teaching & Referral Hospital in East Africa: Case Report & Literature Review

Abstract

Purpose: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC), also known as broken heart syndrome, refers to an abrupt and short-lived cardiac syndrome that encompasses dramatic left ventricular apical akinesia. besides mirroring acute coronary syndrome. Patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome) usually present with symptoms that are similar to acute coronary syndrome. The patient commonly presents with chest pain, dyspnea, palpitation, nausea and vomiting, syncope as well as cardiogenic shock. However, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy usually occurs in association with a preceding physical or emotional stressful event. Methodology: A 25-year-old black female presented to the largest teaching & referral hospital in Kenya with chest pain, dyspnea, palpitations, nausea and vomiting. The patient was received in the emergency room where she was stabilized, a battery of investigations ordered and a diagnosis of TC was made after reviewing the results. She was managed as an inpatient on appropriate medication Findings: Patient generally responded positively to the treatment and tolerated well the surgical procedures. Follow up echocardiograms performed weekly revealed progressive reduction in size of the thrombus, which had completely resolved at 4 weeks. There was no more thrombi formation after thromboembolectomy of the left femoral artery. Recommendations: TC is a rescindable type of cardiomyopathy that is associated with good prognosis and an exceptional morphological characteristic of the left ventricle, that is defined by apical inflating appearance that has been recognized for nearly a quarter a century. We also recommend that patients with identified LV thrombus ought to be anticoagulated till LV function normalizes in addition to the thrombus no longer being present on echocardiogram.