Advanced Biventricular Heart Failure due to Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy Leading to the Formation of a Gastric Bezoar: The Implications of Heart Failure on the Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic disease process affecting multiple organ systems and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a 43-year-old male with a history of unspecified cardiomyopathy who presented to the hospital with abdominal pain, distention, and nausea for 4 months. He was diagnosed with left ventricular noncompaction and gastroparesis. While symptoms of dyspnea, orthopnea, or increasing peripheral edema are the first that come to mind when thinking of a CHF exacerbation, we must broaden our scope to include such things as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloating which can also indicate worsening cardiac function. This case report highlights the significant yet often forgotten gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms that result from advanced biventricular heart failure, with emphasis on impaired gastric and intestinal motility.

Recording and analysis of slow waves of the small intestine of mice with heart failure

“…Many HF patients present with GI symptoms, such as abdominal pain, distension, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. These symptoms, however, are often overlooked, and specific therapies are lacking 24–26 …”

“…These symptoms, however, are often overlooked, and specific therapies are lacking. [24][25][26] Our study aimed to measure and analyze SW in vivo and determine whether SW are affected by HF. This goal was accomplished by a wireless recording of electrical activity in the small intestine of anesthetized eTNAP and control mice, reconstructing the low-and high-frequency bands, and comparing the data between groups.…”