Cardiac Tamponade Flashcards
what is it?
functional syndrome
pericardial effusion or blood compressing the heart enough to impair filling and function
Symptoms when it develops gradually
fatigue
leg edema
gradually progressive dyspnea on exertion
Symptoms when it develops rapidly
altered mental status
dyspnea
cardiovascular collapse and cardiac arrest
Signs
JVD
muffled heart sounds
hypotension
(Beck’s triad)
pulsus paradoxus
Beck’s triad
JVD
muffled heart sounds
hypotension
pulsus paradoxus
exaggeration of normal decrease in BP with inspiration
not specific for cardiac tamponade (also seen in obstructed airways)
echocardiogram findings
diastolic collapse of right atrium and right ventricle
Swan-Ganz right heart catheterizations
show increased and equalized right atrial and left atrial (surrogate: wedge) pressures
Treatment
if due to fluid:
–tap it, using subxiphoid approach through diaphragm
