Woman with rare 'broken heart' syndrome saved

Doctors at Cho Ray and Tu Du Hospitals have successfully saved the life of a female patient suffering from Takotsubo cardiomyopathy syndrome (also known as 'broken heart' syndrome), which is extremely rare.

Doctors are treating a patient suffering from "broken heart syndrome" - Photo: Provided by the hospital

On October 28, Cho Ray Hospital announced that it had coordinated with Tu Du Hospital to successfully treat a female patient with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (also known as "broken heart syndrome"), which is extremely rare.

Previously, on October 17, Cho Ray Hospital received information inviting a consultation from Tu Du Hospital about the case of female patient VTB (42 years old, Dak Lak ) who suffered cardiac arrest twice during surgery to treat a disease.

During the waiting time, the team at Tu Du Hospital actively tried to resuscitate the patient, helping the patient's heart to beat again. At the same time, the team from the cardiology department of Cho Ray Hospital was also present at Tu Du Hospital, assessed the patient's condition and initially diagnosed severe cardiogenic shock, requiring emergency circulatory support.

The patient was quickly maintained with minimal hemodynamics, intubated, put on a ventilator, etc., and transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in critical condition. In the cardiovascular resuscitation room, the patient was recorded as having severe cardiogenic shock, with very high cardiac enzymes.

Coronary angiography results were normal, echocardiography showed apical akinesia, basal hyperkinesia, ejection fraction reduced to only about 33% - typical morphology of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy - a type of cardiomyopathy caused by stress, easily confused with acute myocardial infarction and can progress rapidly, leading to fulminant circulatory failure.

Faced with the critical situation, the cardiology team held an emergency consultation with the interventional cardiology department and the emergency department of Cho Ray Hospital, and decided to activate the 24/7 extracorporeal heart-lung support procedure, placing an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system through the vein - artery, creating a "window" for the heart muscle to recover.

In parallel with the comprehensive resuscitation strategy, the patient was hemodynamically controlled, provided with protective ventilation, antibiotics as recommended, and multi-organ support. With a good response to intensive treatment, blood pressure and cardiac activity gradually stabilized. The patient was gradually trained to reduce mechanical support and wean off the extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support system.

Bedside echocardiography showed that cardiac contractility increased by 38% immediately after discontinuation of support, and continued to improve in the following days. Currently, after 10 days of treatment, the patient has been extubated, receiving oxygen through a cannula, with stable vital signs and good recovery of vital signs.

Associate Professor Hoang Van Sy - Head of the Department of Cardiology, Cho Ray Hospital - said this is a case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy with very severe and sudden progression.

The "key" to the success of the treatment was partly due to the timely inter-hospital coordination between the two hospitals.

What is "broken heart" syndrome?

Dr. Hoang Van Sy added that Takotsubo cardiomyopathy can develop after physical or psychological stress, especially in patients undergoing major surgery.

However, less than 10% of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy cases lead to fulminant circulatory failure. Therefore, this is a very rare clinical situation.

Through this case, the doctor warned that cardiovascular diseases are increasingly diverse and unpredictable, and can appear in situations of physical or mental stress.

Therefore, women, especially in the premenopausal and postmenopausal stages, need to be vigilant when experiencing symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath after physical or mental stress, or after surgery.

This could be a sign of dangerous cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

In addition, cases of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy with severe cardiogenic shock complications need to be cared for and treated at centers capable of performing mechanical circulatory support techniques such as extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support systems.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-phu-nu-mac-hoi-chung-trai-tim-tan-vo-dac-biet-hiem-gap-duoc-cuu-2025102815033568.htm