Post-Myocardial Infarction Complications: A Case of Cardiac Tamponade Secondary to Dressler’s Syndrome

Introduction: Cardiac tamponade, a rare but life-threatening complication following myocardial infarction (MI), can manifest acutely and necessitate urgent intervention. Case Report: We present the clinical course of a 47-year-old male who developed cardiac tamponade secondary to Dressler’s syndrome three weeks after a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The patient presented with epigastric pain, a syncopal episode, and hypotension. Bedside echocardiography revealed a massive pericardial effusion with signs of tamponade physiology. Promptly performing emergency pericardiocentesis led to significant clinical improvement. Conclusion: Early recognition and management are crucial to preventing life-threatening complications.