Tako-tsubo cardiomyopaty after femur fracture

Abstract

We present the case of an 86-year-old woman referred to us from Orthopaedics Division after surgical treatment for femur fracture without personal or family history of ischemic cardiopathy. During hospitalization the patient had stomach-ache and the electrocardiogram demonstrated ST-segment elevation in anterior leads. The coronarography showed haziness, but no critical stenosis; ventricolography revealed apical ballooning of the left ventricle with severe systolic dysfunction. She was treated with dopamine in renal dose, beta-blockers and warfarin. When she was in fairly good condition, she started physiotherapy for endoprosthesis for the femur fracture. Clinicians should consider takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with chest pain, especially in women with a recent history of physical stress.