Caring for the Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Patient

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by an atypical pattern of wall motion abnormalities seen during coronary angiography or echocardiogram as excessive abnormal movement of basal with midventricular and apical hypokinesis. These findings occur in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. The disorder was named due to its distinctive resemblance to traditional Japanese octopus fishing pots called tako-tsubo. The heart presents with a wide base and a long thin neck when viewed in an echocardiogram. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was first identified in Japan in 1990 and, since then, has been gaining increased attention and being diagnosed worldwide.