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Reversible myocardial dysfunction, a possible complication in critically ill patients without heart disease
Manuel Ruiz Bailén1, Eduardo Aguayo de Hoyos, Asunción López Martnez
1Intensive Care Unit, Critical Care and Emergencies Department, Hospital de Poniente, El Ejido, Almería, Spain. ruizbailen@terra.es
Journal of Critical Care
|December 24, 2003
Summary
Critically ill patients without heart disease can develop reversible myocardial dysfunction. This condition involves temporary systolic dysfunction, impaired heart muscle contractility, and electrocardiogram changes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Intensive Care
Background:
- Reversible myocardial dysfunction, or myocardial stunning, is typically seen in acute coronary syndrome.
- It has also been reported in critically ill patients without known heart disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the existence of myocardial dysfunction in critically ill patients without a history of cardiovascular disease.
- To describe the characteristics of this dysfunction in the studied population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, descriptive study was conducted in a district hospital's intensive care unit.
- Patients admitted for non-cardiac causes with no prior heart disease and exhibiting cardiac indicators underwent echocardiography.
- Exclusion criteria included sepsis and other critical illnesses known to cause myocardial dysfunction.
Main Results:
- Thirty-three patients with myocardial dysfunction were studied; median age was 63 years.
- Initial left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.34, with improvements noted over time.
- All patients showed initial segmental contractility disturbances and electrocardiogram changes, which normalized over time.
Conclusions:
- Reversible myocardial dysfunction can occur in critically ill patients without primary heart disease.
- This syndrome is characterized by systolic dysfunction, segmental contractility issues, and electrocardiogram abnormalities.