Transient myocardial dysfunction after smoke inhalation

Acute onset, transient (reversible) myocardial contraction abnormality has been described in patients with acute non-cardiac illness and after acute emotional stress. Such reversible myocardial contraction abnormalities may occur via mechanisms other than reduction in epicardial coronary blood flow. We report a case of acute transient cardiomyopathy after smoke exposure. The patient developed acute heart failure without evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning that resolved within 4 days. An association between brief smoke exposure without carbon monoxide poisoning and acute heart failure has not been previously described.