“Broken heart syndrome” may sound metaphorical, but it describes a genuine cardiac condition that may require prompt medical attention. Also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy, it causes the heart’s main pumping chamber to temporarily change shape and function abnormally. Intense emotional or physical stress can precede its onset.
One major diagnostic challenge associated with this condition is that broken heart syndrome can resemble a heart attack. A patient may arrive at an emergency department with chest pain, shortness of breath or other concerning symptoms. Initial testing can also reveal abnormalities that make distinguishing between similar conditions difficult.
The potential seriousness of this kind of mistake
Mistaking broken heart syndrome for a less serious problem can be dangerous. Although many patients recover, complications associated with this condition can include abnormal heart rhythms, heart failure, low blood pressure and other potentially serious consequences. A patient incorrectly diagnosed with anxiety, indigestion or another relatively minor condition could be discharged without appropriate monitoring or treatment.
The reverse problem also deserves attention. Because the symptoms of this syndrome resemble a heart attack, physicians must take potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions seriously while determining the underlying cause. Assuming that symptoms are caused by emotional stress without conducting an appropriate evaluation could result in a missed heart attack or another dangerous cardiovascular problem.
Not every diagnostic mistake constitutes medical malpractice. Some conditions are exceptionally difficult to distinguish even when healthcare professionals provide appropriate care. Yet, potentially actionable legal questions may arise when it is possible that providers failed to act consistently with applicable standards of care and if their failure caused a patient meaningful harm.