Posttraumatic Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm Initially Misdiagnosed as Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Posttraumatic pseudoaneurysms of the left ventricle are exceptionally rare. An 19-year-old African man presented with excruciating left-sided chest pain radiating to his left arm 8 years after sustaining a chest injury in a severe motor vehicle accident. Initially misdiagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, he was later found to have a left ventricle pseudoaneurysm with a 2.5- × 4.0- cm defect, which was successfully repaired using a pericardial patch. This case highlights the importance of investigating prior chest trauma in patients with echocardiographic findings resembling Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Moreover, educating the public to seek detailed medical examinations after serious motor traffic crashes is of paramount importance.