Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), also known as apical ballooning syndrome or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, typically presents with features of the acute coronary syndrome. It is characterized by left ventricular apical akinesis and transient systolic dysfunction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. Although its pathogenesis remains unclear, it is thought to be a catecholamine surge that is produced following intense physical or emotional stress. We present a case of TCM in a patient with small bowel obstruction (SBO), which is a rare trigger.

Mycobacterium chimaera is a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium. It has been identified as a contaminant during open-heart surgery. It contaminates water in heater-cooler units that then become aerosolized, contaminating the surgical field. We report a 56-year-old male who presented with culture-negative endocarditis six years after his initial open-heart surgery.