Isolated Left Ventricular Hypoplasia in a Postpartum Patient

Can J Cardiol. 2016 Jun;32(6):829.e15-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2015.08.012. Epub 2015 Aug 20.

Abstract

A 22-year-old woman presented with lethargy and shortness of breath at 13 weeks postpartum. She was clinically tachypnoeic with signs of fluid overload. Telemetry revealed 2 different morphologies of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, associated with chest discomfort. Cardiac imaging demonstrated a truncated, spherical left ventricle (LV) with severe systolic dysfunction and fatty replacement of the LV apex but no evidence of myocardial fibrosis. The right ventricle was elongated wrapping around the LV apex and had moderate systolic impairment. A diagnosis of "isolated LV apical hypoplasia" was made with possible concomitant peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiomegaly / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / complications
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / diagnostic imaging
  • Lethargy / etiology
  • Pleural Effusion / diagnosis
  • Postpartum Period*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / etiology