clinical case presentation

Breaking bad: acute heart failure in a 24-year old male

Philippe Timmermans, MDUniversity Hospital Leuven, Belgium

Case presentation

• 24-year old chemistry student• No significant medical history• Felt unwell at home and “fainted”• After recovery of consciousness, the

emergency services were called• During hospital transfer, the patient collapsed

again• Advanced life support was started

• On VA-ECMO and life support for 3 days

• Attempted suicide with Taxus Baccata• Admitted to the psychiatry ward after

counseling• In ambulatory follow-up• Full recovery of myocardial function• Complete normalisation of the ECG