Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy during Emergence from General Anaesthesia

Abstract

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is a clinical syndrome mimicking acute myocardial infarction. We report a case of a 55-year-old man who developed Takotsubo cardiomyopathy during emergence from general anaesthesia for an elective procedure to remove a spinal cord stimulator. The perioperative state is known to induce stress, but there are few cases describing the onset of Takotsubo syndrome during this period. The case presented demonstrates that Takotsubo cardiomyopathy may occur on emergence from anaesthesia and that the pattern of left ventricular dysfunction produced may not be typical.