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Takotsubo syndrome due to occupational stress in a physician
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: 3 July 2026
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Occupational Takotsubo syndrome (“broken heart syndrome”) has been reported very rarely, and only twice among healthcare personnel; the present case being, to our knowledge, the third documented occurrence. Here, we describe the case of a 57-year-old female neonatologist who developed the syndrome after 2 years of intense work-related stress, culminating in the management of a particularly delicate emergency. The diagnosis was made through cardiac imaging techniques that demonstrated the typical deformation (“ballooning”) of the left ventricle that gives the syndrome its name (takotsubo in Japanese means “octopus trap”). The case draws attention to the risk of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a consequence of intense work-related psychophysical stress and to the need for hygiene and organizational measures to prevent both mental and cardiological disorders. Female emergency physicians should be considered a professional category at greater risk of developing the syndrome.
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How to Cite
“Takotsubo Syndrome Due to Occupational Stress in a Physician”. 2026. Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease, July. https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2026.3741.
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