Early Identification of Takotsubo syndrome in the emergency department using point‐of‐care echocardiography: A case series. Issue 4 (14th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barnicle, Ryan; Bracey, Alexander; Secko, Michael
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical ultrasound. Volume 49:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 413
• Page End: 419
• Publication Date: 2020-09-14
• Subjects: emergency medicine -- echocardiography -- POCUS -- point‐of‐care ultrasound -- Takotsubo; Ultrasonics in medicine -- Periodicals; 616.07543
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.22918
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-2751

Abstract

Abstract: Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is an incompletely understood, transient dysfunction of the left ventricle. While acute coronary syndrome must be at the forefront of the differential diagnosis and ruled out appropriately, the possibility of TS can be identified early with point‐of‐care ultrasonography. The formal diagnostic criteria for TS rely on invasive diagnostic procedures and resolution of symptoms, typically relegating it to a diagnosis of exclusion. However, the acute complications are potentially lethal, and rapid identification is therefore beneficial because these patients can be risk‐stratified to higher levels of care. Our case series of three patients, each with early suspected and subsequently confirmed TS, explores how early emergency department ultrasonography can suggest the diagnosis during the emergent workup, and potentially influence disposition decisions, subsequent interventions, and possibly even outcomes.