Pericardial effusion early in acute myocardial infarction

The incidence and significance of pericardial effusions early in acute myocardial infarction remain unclear. Using two‐dimensional echocardiography, 172 patients with an acute myocardial infarction were evaluated within 72 h of presentation. Thirty patients (17%) had a pericardial effusion (29 small, 1 moderate) while 142 (83%) did not. No patient developed cardiac tamponade or required pericardiocentesis. Patients with pericardial effusions had higher peak creatine kinase as compared to patients without effusions (2036 ± 1466 vs. 1483 ± 1241, p>0.05) and a greater number of aneurysms (20% vs. 6%, p>0.05). In‐hospital mortality was higher in the patients with pericardial effusions (10% vs. 2%, p > 0.05). In conclusion, pericardial effusions are common in the early AMI period but are generally small and hemodynamically insignificant. They are associated with larger infarcts and greater mortality.