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Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Operating Transverse Aortic Constriction with Absorbable Suture to Obtain Transient Myocardial Hypertrophy
Published on: September 9, 2020
[A Transient Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?]
Silvia Kuzmiakova1, Bart De Boeck1, Richard Kobza1
1Herzzentrum Luzerner Kantonsspital, Luzern, Schweiz.
Insights
Transient apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after chest trauma was initially suspected in a 79-year-old female. However, findings normalized, revealing myocardial edema, not true hypertrophy, prompting consideration of Takotsubo syndrome or contusio cordis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Trauma Medicine
Background:
- Blunt chest trauma can cause cardiac injury.
- Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a distinct cardiac condition.
- Differentiating myocardial edema from true hypertrophy is clinically important.
Abstract:
A Transient Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy? Abstract. We report on a 79-year-old female patient after blunt chest trauma. Based on T-negative findings on 12-lead ECG and apical left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiography and cardiac MRI examination, apical hypertrophic cardiopathy was postulated. Subsequently, it was shown that these findings were present only transiently and completely normalized in the course. The apical changes were not due to hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes but to myocardial edema. Both Takotsubo syndrome and contusio cordis were considered as causes.
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