Long-term survival of subacute cardiac rupture with tamponade in acute myocardial infarction, without surgical intervention (the role of pericardiocentesis).

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.