Pericardial Effusion And Cardiac Tamponade

Question 1

What’re the two etiologies of pericardial effusion/Tamponade?

Answer 1

Hemopericardium
Serous or serosinguinous pericardial effusion

Question 2

What is hemopericardium?
-How can this occur?

Answer 2

Accumulation of blood in the pericardial space
-Cardiac wall rupture, chest trauma, aortic dissection, or surgery

Question 3

What is serous pericardial effusion caused by?
“PUMA AIR Hype”

Answer 3

Postpericardiotomy syndrome
Uremia
Malignancy
Acute pericarditis
Autoimmune disorders
Idiopathic
Right heart failure
Hypothyroidism

Question 4

What’re the clinical features of pericardial effusion?

Answer 4

Shortness of breath, especially when laying down (orthopnea)

Retrosternal chest pain

Apical impulse is difficult to locate or nonpalpable

Question 5

Clinical features of cardiac tamponade?

Answer 5

Beck triad
Tachycardia, pulsus paradoxus
Pallor, cold sweats
left ventricular failure

Question 6

What is the gold standard test for finding cardiac tamponade or effusion?

Answer 6

TTE

Question 7

Treatment of cardiac effusion or tamponade?

Answer 7

Pericardiocentesis
Or pericardiotomy to drain the fluid