Mechanical support devices successfully managed iatrogenic Takotsubo syndrome with cardiogenic shock triggered by norepinephrine infusion, avoiding adrenergic agents.
Mechanical support devices offer a viable, life-saving management strategy for iatrogenic Takotsubo syndrome complicated by cardiogenic shock by avoiding further adrenergic stimulation.
Takotsubo syndrome is a cardiomyopathy characterized by transient ventricular dysfunction caused by excessive sympathetic discharge, which may potentially lead to a fatal outcome. This case report presents the successful management of a 41-year-old female patient with iatrogenic Takotsubo syndrome complicated by cardiogenic shock. The condition was triggered by the inadvertent administration of norepinephrine, which occurred due to a medication error in which it was mistaken for amiodarone because of look-alike/sound-alike packaging and name similarity. The management strategy focused on the use of mechanical support devices rather than agents that perpetuate the adrenergic discharge underlying the pathophysiology.
Hazır et al. (2026) studied this question. Mechanical support devices successfully managed iatrogenic Takotsubo syndrome with cardiogenic shock triggered by norepinephrine infusion, avoiding adrenergic agents.