An autopsy case of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy presenting ventricular tachycardia after pacemaker implantation

We herein report a rare autopsy case of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) presenting ventricular tachycardia after pacemaker implantation. A 69-year-old male received a dual-chamber pacemaker implantation for complete atrioventricular block. He had no chest symptoms after the operation. Three days later, he developed severe chest pain, followed by syncope. Electrocardiogram showed sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. Despite the use of amiodarone and frequent electrical defibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation were repeated incessantly. He died 24 h after the syncope. The autopsy revealed no hemopericardial effusion, or perforation of leads. There were also no obstructive lesions in the coronary arteries. Myocardial necrosis was observed in the entire circumference and the all layers of the left ventricle. Microscopically, myocardial necrosis was plurifocal and contraction band necrosis. We speculate that catecholamine cardiotoxicity caused ventricular tachycardia in this case. Further studies are needed to clarify the heterogeneity of this disease.