[Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a young woman after a traffic accident with blunt chest trauma].

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is characterized as an acute, reversible left ventricular dysfunction which may be triggered by mental or physical stress. In the case of a 32-year-old woman severe heart failure was observed after a traffic accident with blunt chest trauma. ECG showed ST changes mimicking acute myocardial infarction; although, echocardiography revealed a profile of left ventricular contractile disturbances typical of TC, with ejection fraction reduced to 20%. Additionally, repeated echocardiography showed transient left ventricular wall thickness, suggestive of myocardial edema. Recovery to normal heart function and morphology was confirmed in cardiovascular magnetic resonance. Coronary arteries potency was verified in multi-slice computed tomography. Summing up, it seems that TC should be included in differential diagnosis of heart failure in posttraumatic patients; however, it is impossible to say conclusively which factor was dominant in TC pathogenesis in the case presented: emotional stress or chest trauma.