COVID-19-associated takotsubo cardiomyopathy

The novel COVID-19 has had an unprecedented and devastating spread internationally. COVID-19 infection can lead to a number of cardiovascular sequelae, including heart failure, which may portend worse clinical outcomes. Here, we report a rare case of a 57-year-old woman who developed acute left ventricular systolic dysfunction with apical ballooning consistent with takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), and mixed cardiogenic and septic shock in the setting of COVID-19 disease. We briefly review the pathophysiology and diagnosis of TCM (also described as apical ballooning syndrome and stress-induced cardiomyopathy). Additionally, this case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to clinical decision-making and resource allocation in diagnosis and management of critical illness in the setting of the ongoing international COVID-19 pandemic.