Takotsubo syndrome and the importance of echocardiography

Takotusbo cardiomyopathy (the broken heart syndrome) although unknown until recently represents an important entity in the differential diagnosis of chest pain. Recent studies reveal that it may represent 1-5% of the causes of emergency department presentation. The present book is a monograph presented to the Cardiology Service of the Federal University of Ceará on the importance of the use of echocardiography - a test whose use is expanding - in the diagnosis of this syndrome. Based on a clinical case it discusses multiple aspects in order to summarise the most important elements in understanding this disease as well as its recognition by clinical examination and complementary tests.