Unusual Presentation of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy-A Case Series

Abstract

A rare condition called Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) causes a pregnant woman’s heart to weaken and expand. It occurs in the last month of pregnancy or within five months of delivery. The presented paper was a series of three cases with unusual presentations of PPCM. Cases 1 and 2 demonstrated unique PPCM presentations that included abrupt cardiogenic shock and failure symptoms and signs. The postpartum period’s typical PPCM appearance is illustrated by case 3. The index patients (cases 1 and 2) had low systemic blood pressures, acute respiratory distress, and reduced cardiac output that was indicative of cardiogenic shock. An early echocardiogram was ordered as a result, and the results were suggestive of heart failure. Their varying clinical manifestations posed a significant diagnostic problem due to the heterogeneity. Even though they are uncommon, such catastrophic presentations including acute respiratory distress and low-output cardiac failure can happen. In these unusual cases, rapid pharmacological and mechanical support is required. In order to provide patients with the finest and most efficient care possible, it is crucial to understand the aetiology, clinical signs and symptoms, management, and prognosis of PPCM. Thus, physicians need to be familiar with different presentations of PPCM and always consider it with a high index of suspicion to expedite treatment for a potentially lethal condition to get a better outcome.

Keywords

• cardiac failure
• myocardiopathy
• pregnancy
• respiratory distress