[Heart failure and anaphylactic shock. A report of two cases]

Anaphylactic shock can sometimes take the appearance of heart failure, in relation to an acute coronary syndrome, even with normal coronary arteries, that we illustrate by two observations. We firstly report the case of an anaphylactic shock caused by succinylcholine, after anesthesia induction for inguinal hernia surgery in a 50-year-old man with cardiovascular risks, who presented with ventricular fibrillation followed by a cardiac arrest. An acute and severe anterior coronary syndrome was suspected and treated with thrombolysis. Then the electrocardiogram normalized, as well as the left ventricular function. No significant coronary stenosis was retrospectively revealed by coronarography, and a severe coronary vasospasm induced by the anaphylactic reaction was confirmed. We also describe the case of an anaphylactoid shock caused by cisatracurium infusion, that occurred at the beginning of an adnexectomy in a 55-year-old woman without any particular history. She presented with a cardiogenic shock after intravenous administration of epinephrine. The echocardiograpghic evaluation pointed out an aspect of stress-induced cardiomyopathy, and the coronarography showed normal coronary arteries. The left ventricular dysfunction completely normalized, strongly suggesting the diagnosis of Takotsubo-like syndrome after the anaphylactic shock and its treatment. Both of these cases point out the major interest of cardiologic and allergic evaluation in case of heart failure during general anesthesia. Coronary vasospasm and stress-induced cardiomyopathy are two pathologies that may be observed during anaphylactic shock, and their diagnosis should be considered after elimination of coronary thrombosis.