A Lady with a Broken Heart

Broken-heart syndrome (BHS) is an acute reversible myocardial injury of left or right ventricular myocardium in the absence of coronary occlusion. We, herein, discuss a case of a postmenopausal female presenting with angina equivalent with surface electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography consistent for acute coronary syndrome. The patient was subsequently diagnosed and treated as BHS.

Two Cases of Stress Cardiomyopathy during Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is considered a relatively safe procedure. However, the procedure and the materials used in EGD with conscious sedation can cause stress to the patient. Adverse events during EGD have been reported, represented by cardiopulmonary complications. To date, five cases have reported worldwide to be associated with gastrointestinal endoscopy. Stress cardiomyopathy (SCMP) is a reversible cardiomyopathy that typically occurs in postmenopausal women due to stress and may resolve within a few weeks. SCMP resembles acute myocardial infarction but differs in terms of treatment and prognosis. Here, we describe two cases of SCMP with shock during EGD with conscious sedation.

Role of Imaging in the Detection of Reversible Cardiomyopathy

Heart failure is a major clinical problem in developed countries with about half of heart failure patients exhibiting decreased left ventricular systolic function. The correct identification and prompt treatment of some specific etiologies can reverse heart failure, and recognition of myocardial recovery may avoid long-term therapy. However, the echocardiographic patterns of patients with a variety of etiologies of heart failure are similar, so the selective use of other imaging techniques is necessary for identification of specific etiologies. The role of repeat imaging in monitoring the therapeutic response is controversial, as is the cessation of medical therapy in patients demonstrating recovery.