ABSTRACT
Cardiac tamponade is a clinical syndrome caused by an increase in intrapericardial pressure due to the accumulation of blood, pus, other fluid, or gas in the pericardial space. Cardiac tamponade typically leads to a crisis by decreasing venous return, which impairs diastolic ventricular filling. Ventricular wall rupture is an uncommon complication after a myocardial infarction that is associated with a high mortality rate from pericardial tamponade, especially in the elderly. Cardiac ruptures following acute myocardial infarction include rupture of the left ventricle free-wall, ventricular septal defects, and papillary muscle rupture. Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening clinical syndrome that requires timely diagnosis. A high index of suspicion of this clinical entity as cause of death during autopsy in suspected cardiac cases is imperative. In recent years, several different therapeutic approaches have been described including percutaneous seals and surgical mechanical closure of ventricular free wall rupture. We present a case of a 41 year-old man who suffered myocardial infarction, had findings of ventricular wall rupture complicated by pericardial tamponade. A brief overview of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of this challenging and potentially fatal complication is presented.