Stress (Takotsubo) Cardiomyopathy During Liver Transplantation: Case Study and Literature Review

Abstract

A case of stress (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy (TC) that occurred intraoperatively during liver transplantation surgery was identified by transesophageal echocardiography. Only a few cases of TC occurring during liver transplantation have been reported to date. Unlike other cases reported, TC occurred during the anhepatic stage of the liver transplantation, with subsequent complete recovery. Notwithstanding the large number of cases of TC in the perioperative settings reported worldwide, the exact reasons of this syndrome occurring intraoperatively as well as precipitating factors and conditions remain mostly unknown.