Acute pericarditis in the first hours after cardiac surgery. A necessary and urgent difference with myocardial ischemia

Abstract

Introduction: pericardial inflammation may be caused by multiple factors, including cardiac surgery. It is typically described in the early days of the postoperative period.
Objectives: to present a clinical case of acute pericarditis that started within the early hours of the postoperative period, posing a diagnostic challenge. Clinical Case Presentation: the patient who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery presented ST segment elevation two hours after admission to the intensive care unit. An emergency
coronary angiography was necessary to differentiate it from acute ischemic syndrome. Conclusions: acute pericarditis may occur during the early hours following cardiac surgery,
requiring differentiation from serious complications such as ischemia and acute myocardial infarction.