Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026

Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus
Published on: March 6, 2019
Massive respiratory dysfunction as sign of fulminant peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM)
Nele Freerksen1, Jörg Jaekel, Ares Krishna Menon
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany. nfreerksen@ukaachen.de
Objective:
Case report of a 35-year-old gravida 3, para 2, at 40 + 6 weeks with massive respiratory dysfunction with need of oxygenation, requiring cesarean section.
Case Report:
Postpartum investigations revealed pathological cardiomegaly with left ventricular failure (NYHAIV). Cardiac biopsy diagnosed postpartum dilatative cardiomyopathy. Despite medication with bromocriptine and levosimendan, cardiac function continued to decrease, requiring surgical intervention and implantation of an intracorporal, left ventricular assist device. Following surgery, cardiac function progressively improved and stabilized.
Objective:
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, pregnancy-induced disease and requires an interdisciplinary approach for diagnostics and therapeutical treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
Respiratory System Abnormal Finding I: Inspection and Percussion
Inspection Findings
During an inspection, several findings may suggest the presence of respiratory distress or disease. Pursed-lip breathing, where exhalation is slowed by...
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
