Takotsubo cardiomyopathy following head and neck surgery: Can the fear of disfigurement be blamed?

Abstract

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is accompanied by transitory left ventricular dysfunction without substantial coronary artery disease. A history of acute physical or mental stress typically precedes such a presentation. We want to highlight a case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the early postoperative period in a young female patient who underwent extensive surgery for buccal mucosal carcinoma. The onset of this cardiomyopathy can be ascribed to a fear of disfigurement and prolonged surgical stress.

Keywords: Disfigurement; Takotsubo cardiomyopathy; left ventricular dysfunction; surgical stress.