Takotsubo cardiomyopathy developed during rewarming of accidental hypothermia with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

BACKGROUND: We here present the first case report of takotsubo cardiomyopathy that developed during rewarming of a patient with severe accidental hypothermia with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. CASE: A 74‐year‐old woman was found unresponsive outdoors and suffered cardiopulmonary arrest during transfer to our hospital. On arrival, she was still in cardiopulmonary arrest. Veno‐arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated for resuscitation and rewarming. After admission to the intensive care unit, her blood pressure suddenly dropped, and coronary angiography on day 2 indicated intact coronary arteries. Left ventriculography showed typical takotsubo‐like dysfunction in the end‐systolic phase, which led to the diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Left ventricular wall motion gradually improved, and echocardiography on day 6 revealed that abnormalities in the left ventricular wall motion had almost disappeared. CONCLUSION: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy might arise during rewarming of patients with severe accidental hypothermia.