Transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome after inadvertent epidural administration of potassium chloride

A 32-year-old white female presented for her first Caesarean section. The procedure was performed under epidural anaesthesia. The anaesthetic drug was inadvertently diluted with potassium chloride instead of normal saline. This solution was then injected via an epidural catheter into the epidural space. A few hours later, pulmonary edema, requiring mechanical ventilatory support, occurred due to the left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome (Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy). The patient was stabilized after the placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump. Follow-up echocardiography showed complete left ventricular systolic function recovery. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.