Key result
An 80-year-old man developed Takotsubo syndrome, confirmed by apical ballooning, after witnessing the sudden death of his hospital roommate.
Why the study?
In-hospital triggers for secondary Takotsubo syndrome appear to be common, motivating efforts to bring attention to this prevalent phenomenon.
Case Report (n=1)
This case highlights that severe emotional stress in a hospital setting, such as witnessing a roommate's death, can trigger secondary Takotsubo syndrome.
Rare TTS case with in-hospital complication highlights diagnostic pitfalls; leaves open whether trigger-specific subtypes alter prognosis or therapy.
Background: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by acute left ventricular dysfunction, mimicking an acute myocardial infarction, in the absence of obstructed coronary arteries. It is often triggered by physical or emotional stress, with catecholamines playing a central role in its pathophysiology. Recent advances have been made in categorizing TTS patients based on trigger events and comorbidities, as well as proposed classifications differentiating primary and secondary TTS. In-hospital triggers for (secondary) TTS appear to be quite common, and our aim is to bring attention of this prevalent phenomenon. Case summary: We present the clinical course of an 80-year-old man who developed TTS after witnessing the sudden death of his roommate during his hospital stay. Initially hospitalized for bradycardia and complete atrioventricular block, the patient was discharged after a pacemaker implantation. However, he returned to the hospital 3 days later with chest pain and other symptoms indicative of TTS. Diagnostic tests confirmed apical ballooning consistent with TTS, and subsequent echocardiograms showed a substantial improvement in left ventricular function. Discussion: The case is classified as in-hospital TTS, occurring unexpectedly during medical care, and suggests that secondary TTS could represent a certain 'basic risk' for hospitalized patients. We want to emphasize the importance of reducing pain and fear in the hospital setting and encourage further research to understand the association between TTS and medical procedures and therapies. Overall, this case underscores the need for strategies to reduce the frequency of TTS in hospitalized patients.
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Aweimer et al. (2023) conducted a case report in Takotsubo syndrome (n=1). Witnessing sudden death of a hospital roommate was evaluated on Development of Takotsubo syndrome. An 80-year-old man developed Takotsubo syndrome, confirmed by apical ballooning, after witnessing the sudden death of his hospital roommate.
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