Reverse Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy following Inadvertent Intrathecal Injection during Percutaneous Epidural Neuroplasty

Stress induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is becoming increasingly described as an underdiagnosed complication during common medical procedures. Reverse Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (RTC) is a variant of SIC that involves the basal and mid-ventricular segments and spares the apical segments. The authors present a rare case of RTC, following an inadvertent intrathecal injection during percutaneous epidural neuroplasty. Although the precise mechanism involved remains unclear, the direct neurohumoral effects of the hyperbaric anaesthetics and adhesiolytics appear to have resulted in a catecholamine surge and myocardial stunning that precipitated the SIC.