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Pericardial Effusion as a Consequence of Acute Myocardial Infarction
Author(s) -
GREGOR PAVEL,
WIDIMSKÝ PETR
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8175.1999.tb00820.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pericardial effusion , acute pericarditis , cardiac tamponade , myocardial infarction , cardiology , pericarditis , complication , tamponade , effusion , cardiac rupture , incidence (geometry) , clinical significance , surgery , physics , optics
Pericarditis is a common complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Its incidence during the first few days after acute MI is 24%–43% when echocardiographic criteria are used, whereas the frequency of clinical pericarditis is much less (from 5% for all acute MIs to 21% for anterior Q wave MIs). Clinical, electrocardiographic findings are discussed. Effusions are mostly small, and the resolution is frequently slow, lasting 1–18 months. Tamponade is extremely rare in the absence of cardiac rupture. Q wave MIs (especially anterior) are more frequently accompanied by pericardial effusion. The prognostic significance of echocardiographically proved pericarditis is questionable.