Cardiomyopathy induced by sinus tachycardia in combat wounded: a case study.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-2014
Abstract
Tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy is a potentially lethal cause of heart failure generally because of atrial tachycardia and less frequently ventricular tachycardia. We present two cases of Marines with severe traumatic blast injuries secondary to improvised explosive device attacks whose hospital courses included amputation, massive blood transfusions, and multiple surgeries. Both patients had prolonged sinus tachycardia averaging >110 beats per minute and developed depressed left ventricular function, which recovered when treated with β blockers. Sinus tachycardia is often considered a physiological response to stress, and the purpose of this manuscript is to describe the cardiac injury apparently related to a prolonged stress response. In addition, the literature does not clearly recommend controlling heart rates in trauma patients with persistent sinus tachycardia, but it is a therapeutic option that should be considered by providers.
Volume
179
Issue
9
First Page
1062
Last Page
1064
ISSN
1930-613X
Published In/Presented At
Kavanaugh, M., McDivitt, J., Philip, A., Froehner, J. W., Rotruck, J., Hemann, B., Haigney, M., Atwood, J., & Nations, J. A. (2014). Cardiomyopathy induced by sinus tachycardia in combat wounded: a case study. Military medicine, 179(9), e1062–e1064. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00463
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
25181728
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article