FIRST REPORTED CASE OF TAKOTSUBO CARDIOMYOPATHY INDUCED BY PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION

ABSTRACT

Background: We report an unusual case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) caused by radial spasm during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), resulting in a fatal outcome. Case A 70-year-old Caucasian female presented with an acute anterior myocardial infarction (MI) with anterior ST segment elevation. Coronary angiography showed critical proximal left anterior descending artery stenosis, and she underwent successful PCI via the right radial artery. Post-MI echocardiogram showed anterior wall hypokinesis with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 45%. The right coronary artery (RCA) had 70% stenosis in the mid-vessel and a staged outpatient intervention was planned. Decision-making The staged procedure was delayed by seven months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The same right radial access was selected but she developed significant radial spasm. Despite vasodilators, radial spasm persisted, so balloon-assisted tracking technique was used to advance guiding catheter. Fractional flow reserve of the RCA stenosis was positive at 0.76. PCI was then successfully performed using a 3x48 mm Xience stent. Thirty minutes later, she developed severe chest pain with widespread ST segment elevation. Repeat angiography via the right femoral artery showed patent coronary arteries. Echocardiography showed new apical ballooning pattern, typical of TTC with LVEF was 35%. She was discharged after 48 hours, but she re-presented a week later with cardiogenic shock. She had florid pulmonary oedema and an echo showed new torrential mitral regurgitation due anterior mitral leaflet chordal rupture. The apical ballooning that was observed a week earlier had resolved. An intra-aortic balloon pump was inserted, and the patient underwent emergency repair of the mitral valve. The procedure was technically successful, but the patient died on postoperative day one, due to multi-organ failure. Conclusion: We believe that TTC in our patient was caused by radial artery spasm. To our knowledge, this is the first case of TTC caused by radial spasm. Furthermore, chordal rupture secondary to TTC has been reported only once before.