Sudden pulseless electrical activity in a patient with severe coronary artery disease

The authors present a patient with severe coronary artery disease who suffered acute inferoposterior myocardial infarction. The first three days of rehabilitation were uneventful, but on the fourth day the patient showed a sudden onset of pulseless electrical activity. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was unsuccessful and the patient died. The authors emphasize the role of bedside echocardiography for detection of mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction, and coronary angiography for determination of the severity of coronary artery disease.