In the eye of the storm- echocardiographic particle image velocimetry analysis in a patient with Takotsubo syndrome

Echo particle imaging velocimetry (Echo PIV) is a contrast-echo–based technique, used to evaluate the instantaneous vortical blood motion into the left ventricle (LV). Here, we report, for the first time, echo-PIV findings in a patient with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Vortex behavior suggested that TTS might present with peculiar PIV characteristics, including relatively preserved intra-ventricular pressure gradient and energy dissipation. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether the preservation of a more physiological vortex behavior could be related to the structural and functional recovery observed in TTS