ABSTRACT
Postcardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) is an inflammatory process that usually occurs within 1 to 6 weeks after an injury to the pericardium, epicardium, or myocardium. As more interventions are performed for complicated coronary artery obstructive lesions, there have been some recent reports on PCIS following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The medical management of PCIS depends on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in addition to colchicine or steroids. An 80-year-old male patient underwent a PCI. Unfortunately, the guidewire piercing failed but he showed no immediate signs of complication. However, 5 hours after the procedure, he complained of chest discomfort. An electrocardiogram showed widespread ST elevation. Chest X-ray and computed tomography showed pulmonary congestion with pleural effusion, while thoracic echocardiography showed a moderate amount of pericardial effusion. NSAIDs were initiated, but there was no improvement of symptoms. We describe an unusual case of atypical earl onset PCIS after PCI, recovered rapidly by steroids.