Extract
Originally called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, it is also known as stress cardiomyopathy, stress-induced cardiomyopathy or apical ballooning syndrome
Takotsubo disease is thought to have been first described by Dr Hikaru Sato 25 years ago in Japan, during 1991. The Japanese word ‘Takotsubo’ is the name for the ‘octopus pot’ that Japanese fishermen use to catch octopuses. The pot has a round bottom and narrow neck thus trapping the creatures until they are pulled out by the fishermen.
Dr Sato graduated from Kobe University School of Medicine then worked at Hiroshima City Hospital from 1978. As a student at Kobe Graduate School he studied experimental cardiac infarction which remained one of his main interests.
One day he was observing the ECG of a patient undergoing coronary angiography and left ventriculography when he noticed Takotsubo-type cardiac muscle alterations.
When working at the Hiroshima City Hospital Dr Sato was of the opinion that the professor should always be at the hospital to perform the CCU work and also felt that the professor should always see patients himself. He supported younger doctors by accompanying them when they saw patients, in order to help them as necessary and take overall responsibility for diagnoses and treatment. He tried not to interfere with the work of junior doctors but advised as needed, giving them an opportunity to ‘shine’ whilst taking the responsibility on his ‘shoulders’.
