Cardiac Tamponade Flashcards
What is cardiac tamponade?
Heart become compressed by excess fluid in the pericardium (Blood)
What is cardiac tamponade characterised by?
Characterized by the accumulation of pericardial fluid under pressure.
What can compression of the heart during cardiac tamponade cause?
Compression causes reduced diastolic filling of the heart, which can cause cardiac arrest.
What are the classic triad of features of cardiac tamponade referred to?
Beck’s triad
What does Beck’s triad consist of?
hypotension
raised JVP
muffled heart sounds
What are the other clinical signs of cardiac tamponade
dyspnoea
tachycardia
an absent Y descent on the JVP
pulsus paradoxus
Why is there an absent Y descent on the JVP during cardiac tamponade?
Due to the limited right ventricular filling
What is pulsus paradoxus?
An abnormally large drop in BP during inspiration
What ECG changes might you see in someone with cardiac tamponade?
Electrical alternans (alternating height of QRS complexes)
What are clinical signs of constrictive pericarditis?
JVP X + Y present
Absent pulse paradoxus
Present Kussmaul’s
Pericardial calcification on CXR
What is the main cause of cardiac tamponade?
Traumatic injury
What is the main management of cardiac tamponade?
Pericardiocentesis
What are clinical signs of cardiac tamponade?
Present pulse paradoxus
JVP absent Y descent
Kussmaul’s sign is rare
What is the best diagnostic test for cardiac tamponade?
Echocardiogram
What is the management of cardiac tamponade if the patient has neoplastic disease?
Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy
