Stress Cardiomyopathy Following Thoracostomy Tube Placement and Hemothorax Drainage: A Case Report

Division

Capital

Hospital

LewisGale Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

9-21-2023

Keywords

stress-induced cardiomyopathy, chest wall trauma, thoracostomy tube, post-traumatic hemothorax, takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Disciplines

Cardiovascular Diseases | Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Stress cardiomyopathy (SCM) is a clinical phenomenon presenting symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome and defined by acute, but transient, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. However, no obstructive coronary lesion is identified on catheterization, and pathognomic echocardiogram findings are typically encountered. Multiple causes have been posited in the literature (e.g., severe stress, anxiety, pain, comorbid illness, trauma). We present the case of a 46-year-old female who presented to the emergency department (ED) for delayed left-sided hemothorax (six weeks following a high-speed motor vehicle collision) and developed an acute SCM following large-bore chest tube placement. To our knowledge, no prior cases have been reported immediately following thoracostomy tube placement and hemothorax drainage in the ED setting. We explore possible mechanistic explanations related to our case, which adds to the existing literature on the subject.

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

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