title: Long-term survival of subacute cardiac rupture with tamponade in acute myocardial infarction, without surgical intervention (the role of pericardiocentesis).
abstract: Four patients are described with cardiac tamponade caused by subacute cardiac rupture in acute myocardial infarction with long-term survival of two of them. Three patients were treated by pericardiocentesis. Clinical signs and symptoms and diagnostic problems are discussed stressing the need for a well-trained team of workers of the Coronary Care Units aware of the possibility of this event and ready to cope with its therapeutical demands--both surgical and conservative--by pericardiocentesis which is a small number of patients can be life-saving.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006341:Heart Rupture / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000601:surgery*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000601:surgery*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013396:Suction; D013997:Time Factors