Post-cardiac injury syndrome is a delayed immune-mediated inflammatory condition that occurs following cardiac surgery, myocardial infarction, or trauma. It occurs most commonly as a consequence of cardiac surgery. Pericarditis, following myocardial infarction, is referred to as Dressler syndrome. Traumatic causes of PCIS include blunt and penetrating thoracic trauma, as well as iatrogenic injuries from pacemaker placement and percutaneous coronary intervention. Following a latency period after cardiac injury, the clinical presentation includes chest pain, fever, pleurisy, and elevated inflammatory serologic markers. Imaging demonstrates pericardial and pleural effusions and occasionally pulmonary infiltrates. The pleural effusion is nearly always exudative and can be serosanguinous in nature. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory drugs, as used for acute pericarditis. Pleural effusions can be managed with thoracentesis if they occupy a large portion of the thoracic cavity and produce symptoms. Recurrent pleural effusions may necessitate chest tube thoracostomy or surgical intervention.