Typical pericarditis ECG findings after falling from height. The PR segment depression or ST segment elevation?

Abstract

Acute pericarditis (AP) following blunt thoracic trauma is rare and difficult to diagnosis. A 43-year-old man with offered to the emergency department (ED) after falling from height before a week ago. The ECG performed in the ED was abnormal, ECG revealed PR segment depression in leads DII, DIII, aVF, and V3-6 and a preliminary diagnosis of acute inferolateral STEMI was presumed. Patients have evidence of systemic inflammation, including leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. We are reporting a case of post-traumatic acute pericarditis presenting with PR-segment depression and normal cardiac enzymes mimicking acute STEMI.

Case Report: Unexplained Fever and Chest Pain in a 5-Year-Old

“…Among the mechanical causes of pericarditis, iatrogenic injury is mostly observed. However, among adults a pericardial effusion, fibrosis and tamponade following a blunt force chest injury have also been reported ( 11 , 12 ). It is uncertain, whether an extremely unfortunate fall can lead to pericarditis without any skeletal lesions.…”