Localized pericarditis leading to clinical tamponade with profound shock status and syncope as a major clinical manifestation after posterior wall myocardial infarction—Characterization and descriptive findings by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography

Pericarditis and hemopericardium causing cardiac tamponade, caused by large and transmural ventricular infarction with subsequent rupture into the pericardium, is a rare complication post acute myocardial infarction. This is frequently fatal with rapid clinical course. We reported a 65-year-old female who presented with persistent diaphoresis and dyspnea for several hours followed by syncope. Acute myocardial infarction was diagnosed with primary percutaneous coronary intervention performed though persistent hypotension was observed. Moderate amount of hemopericardium leading to tamponade was found. It was relieved after pericardiocentesis. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography revealed blood clot with specific whirling pattern around the infracted ventricular wall with suspected leak.