Cardiac Tamponade

Question 1

What is cardiac tamponade

Answer 1

Accumulation of fluid, blood, purulent exudate or air in the pericardial space raises intra pericardial pressure

Question 2

Overall effect of cardiac tamponade

Answer 2

Diastolic filling is reduced and so reduces cardiac output

Question 3

Symptoms of cardiac tamponade

Answer 3

SOB, tachycardia, confusion, chest pain, abdominal pain

Question 4

Signs of cardiac tamponade

Answer 4

Becks triad - hypotension, quiet heart sounds, raised JVP

Question 5

Management of haemodynamically unstable patients

Answer 5

Pericardiocentesis

Question 6

What requires surgical drainage first line

Answer 6

Haemopericardial patients, those with cancer or traumatic or purulent effusion

Question 7

Causes of cardiac tamponade

Answer 7

Blunt trauma, penetrating trauma, aortic dissection, advanced cancer, MI, TB, pericarditis, chronic immune diseases, hypothyroidism, heart or kidney failure