Takotsubo Syndrome after Pacemaker Implantation: A Systematic Review

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute cardiac condition characterized by a temporary wall motion abnormality of the left ventricle that mimics an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). TTS usually occurs following emotional or physical triggering event. More recently, sporadic cases of TTS arising after pacemaker implantation were reported.

We performed a systematic review of the available literature to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge about pacemaker implantation-induced TTS.

The articles selected included case reports and one registry on 28 patients. Most cases occurred in women (75%), encompassing a broad age range. The mean age of the cases described was 74 years. Full recovery of cardiac function was reported in most cases (92.3%), with largely varying recovery times, on average 7 weeks. The most common comorbidity was arterial hypertension and the average ejection fraction at admission was approximately 62%. Clinical severity ranges from asymptomatic cases to severe clinical heart failure syndrome. Altogether the case fatality rate was 3.6%.

For rare it might be, awareness about the potential to develop TTS after pacemaker implantation should prompt careful clinical monitoring, with daily electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring and at least one echocardiographic examination prior to patients' discharge to allow early diagnosis and minimize the clinical risk.