Mechanical bridge to recovery in pheochromocytoma myocarditis.
BACKGROUND
A 27-year-old male presented with exercise-related symptoms of chest tightness, palpitations, breathlessness and severe headache, with occasional nausea, dizziness, and blurred vision. Apart from a family history of coronary artery disease there was no other medical history of note.


METHODS
Clinical examination, treadmill exercise test (Bruce protocol), electrocardiography, MRI of the abdomen, blood tests, chest radiography, coronary angiography, two-dimensional echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, microscopy of the tumor, (131)iodine metaiodobenzylguanidine scan.


METHODS
Pheochromocytoma myocarditis.


RESULTS
Intra-aortic balloon pump, levosimendan and dobutamine infusion, alpha-blockade with phentolamine, surgical removal of the pheochromocytoma, Levitronix (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA) left ventricular assist device implantation.
Westaby
Stephen
S
Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. stephen.westaby@ orh.nhs.uk
Shahir
Ashwin
A
Sadler
Gregory
G
Flynn
Fidelma
F
Ormerod
Oliver
O
D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine