title: Cardiogenic shock following administration of propofol and fentanyl in a healthy woman: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiogenic shock is very uncommon in healthy people. The differential diagnosis for patients with acute heart failure in previously healthy hearts includes acute myocardial infarction and myocarditis. However, many drugs can also depress myocardial function. Propofol and fentanyl are frequently used during different medical procedures. The cardiovascular depressive effect of both drugs has been well established, but the development of cardiogenic shock is very rare when these agents are used.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a minor surgical intervention, a 32-year-old Caucasian woman with no significant medical history went into sudden hemodynamic deterioration due to acute heart failure. An urgent echocardiogram showed severe biventricular dysfunction and an estimated left ventricular ejection fraction of 20%. Extracorporeal life support and mechanical ventilation were required. Five days later her ventricular function had fully recovered, which allowed the progressive withdrawal of medical treatment. Prior to her hospital discharge, cardiac MRI showed neither edema nor pathological deposits on the delayed contrast enhancement sequences. At her six-month follow-up examination, the patient was asymptomatic and did not require treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there are many causes of cardiogenic shock, the presence of abrupt hemodynamic deterioration and the absence of a clear cause could be related to the use of propofol and fentanyl.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Julián Claveria s/n 33005, Oviedo, Spain. dr.renilla@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renilla González
authors.forename: Iñigo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lozano Martinez-Luengas
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Secades González
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alvarez Pichel
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alvarez Martinez
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santamarta Liébana
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Díaz Molina