Reverse Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in a Critically Ill Patient in the ICU: A Case Report With Literature Review

Takotsubo, or stress cardiomyopathy (SC), is described as a transient systolic dysfunction of the apical segments of the left ventricle mainly triggered by emotional or physical stress resembling the presentation of an acute coronary syndrome in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. Reverse Takotsubo SC is a rare variant of SC that presents with basal ballooning instead of apical ballooning seen in classic SC. We present a case of a 74-year-old male who was admitted to the ICU with septic shock. Laboratory test results showed elevated troponin. An echocardiogram showed reduced cardiac contractility and relative hypokinesis of the basal and mid segments compared to the apical segments, consistent with reverse Takotsubo SC, which recovered after 10 days. It can happen in critically ill patients in the ICU secondary to severe sepsis and could contribute to hemodynamic worsening, affecting the final clinical outcomes.