Cardiac tamponade complicating myocardial infarction in the era of thrombolytics and platelet IIb/IIIa: case report and literature review

Pericardial tamponade is a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction. The authors present the case of a patient with a large anterior myocardial infarction administered thrombolytics who developed postinfarction pericarditis. Because of a stuttering course with concomitant postinfarction angina, urgent angiography, leading to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and stent implantation, was performed. Administration of abciximab prior to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty appears to have precipitated pericardial tamponade. The authors review the literature concerning numerous commonly utilized therapeutic options that could have contributed to the development of pericardial tamponade.