--- a +++ b/processing/MACCROBAT/27130218.txt @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +A 36- year- old white woman at 40 week of gestation was admitted to a local obstetric clinic for elective repeated cesarean delivery due to slanting position of the fetus. +Both her previous and current pregnancy were uncomplicated. +Her past medical history was unremarkable and no family history of cardiac disease was reported. +The caesarean delivery was performed following the administration of standard spinal anesthesia. +During surgery the patient became hypotensive and ephedrine was injected to maintain her blood pressure in the normal range. +Three hours after delivery of healthy male infant, the patient complained of nausea, increasing dyspnoea and palpitations. +On physical examination tachycardia with ventricular extra systoles and pulmonary rales were detected. +Her blood pressure was 80/40 mmHg and demanded the administration of inotropic agents (initially continuous infusion of norepinephrine 0.5 mg/h followed by dobutamine 7 μg/kg/min). +Owing to worsening of oxygen saturation up to 70 % and gradual deterioration of consciousness, mechanical ventilation was applied and the patient was transferred to intensive care unit. +Chest X ray indicated pulmonary congestion. +Emergency computer tomography excluded pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) and confirmed severe pulmonary oedema (Fig.1). +The patient received loop diuretic, furosemide, at initial daily dose 80 mg, which was progressively reduced. +The diuretic was discontinued after 12 days of treatment. +The electrocardiogram disclosed sinus tachycardia with ST- segment elevation of 1,5 mm with negative T waves in aVL and ST- segment depression of 1 mm in II, III, aVF, V5-V6 (Fig.2). +Laboratory tests showed elevated troponin up to 908 pg/ml (normal value <14 pg/ml), NT- pro BNP 6236 pg/ml (normal value <125 pg/ml). +The bedside transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. +Therefore the patient was transferred to Intensive Cardiac Therapy Clinic. +Repeated TTE showed LV ejection fraction 30 % with hypokinesis of the mid and basal segments of posterior, anterior and lateral wall with preserved contractility of the apical segments. +Urgent coronary angiography presented normal coronary arteries. +The diagnosis of inverted stress- induced cardiomyopathy was set upon the overall clinical data. +After 3 days the patient was weaned from respirator and extubated. +Following hemodynamic improvement, inotropic agents were tapered gradually. +Both TTE and magnetic resonance imaging (Figs.3 and 4) performed on the fifth day showed complete recovery of myocardial function. +The patient was discharged after 15 days in good overall condition. +At 12- month follow- up she remained asymptomatic with no echocardiographic abnormalities.