Transient left ventricular ballooning syndrome.

The transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome or takotsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction refers to the ventricular morphological features present in the heart of these patients. It resembles the Japanese Takotsubo, which means a "fishing pot for trapping octopuses". This syndrome is characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction, electrocardiographic changes and minimal release of myocardial enzymes that mimic acute anterior myocardial infarction, in patients without angiographic coronary artery disease. Several pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed to explain it; however the precise aetiology remains unknown. This condition is transient and has a good prognosis, however Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a new entity of acute heart failure, should be noted and thought of as a cause of sudden cardiac death. Its proper diagnosis and management greatly depends on our initial suspicion. 2008 European Federation of Internal Medicine.