Cardiac Tamponade
What is cardiac tamponade?
Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency condition in which fluid accumulates in the pericardium (the sac in which the heart is enclosed). The elevated pericardial pressure puts significant pressure on the heart, causing a decrease in diastolic filling of the ventricles, and hence in stroke volume. The end result is ineffective pumping of blood, shock, and potentially death.
Causes:
Cardiac tamponade is caused by the accumulation of a large or uncontrolled pericardial effusion. The effusion can occur rapidly (as in the case of trauma or myocardial rupture), or over a more gradual period of time (as in cancer). The fluid involved is often blood, but pus is also found in some circumstances.
Common causes of increased pericardial effusion include hypothyroidism, trauma (either penetrating trauma involving the pericardium or blunt chest trauma), pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium), iatrogenic trauma (during an invasive procedure), and ventricular rupture.
Symptoms
☛ Anxiety, restlessness
☛ Chest pain- Sharp and stabbing pain which worsens with deep breathing or coughing.
☛ Difficulty breathing
☛ Discomfort, sometimes relieved by sitting upright or leaning forward
☛ Fainting, light-headedness
☛ Pale, gray, or blue skin
☛ Palpitations
☛ Rapid breathing
☛ Swelling of the abdomen or other areas
☛ Low blood pressure
☛ Weak or absent pulse
Cardiac tamponade is an emergency condition requiring immediate attention.
Treatment Options
☛ Pericardiocentesis (procedure that uses a needle to remove fluid from the pericardial sac)
☛ Pericardial Window (A procedure to cut and remove part of the pericardium) - if necessary.
☛ Fluids are given to maintain normal blood pressure until pericardiocentesis can be performed. Medications that increase blood pressure may also help sustain the patient's life until the fluid is drained.
☛ The patient may be given oxygen. This reduces the workload on the heart by decreasing tissue demands for blood flow.
The cause of the tamponade must be identified and treated.
Tamponade is life-threatening if untreated.
What is cardiac tamponade?
Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency condition in which fluid accumulates in the pericardium (the sac in which the heart is enclosed). The elevated pericardial pressure puts significant pressure on the heart, causing a decrease in diastolic filling of the ventricles, and hence in stroke volume. The end result is ineffective pumping of blood, shock, and potentially death.
Causes:
Cardiac tamponade is caused by the accumulation of a large or uncontrolled pericardial effusion. The effusion can occur rapidly (as in the case of trauma or myocardial rupture), or over a more gradual period of time (as in cancer). The fluid involved is often blood, but pus is also found in some circumstances.
Common causes of increased pericardial effusion include hypothyroidism, trauma (either penetrating trauma involving the pericardium or blunt chest trauma), pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium), iatrogenic trauma (during an invasive procedure), and ventricular rupture.
Symptoms
☛ Anxiety, restlessness
☛ Chest pain- Sharp and stabbing pain which worsens with deep breathing or coughing.
☛ Difficulty breathing
☛ Discomfort, sometimes relieved by sitting upright or leaning forward
☛ Fainting, light-headedness
☛ Pale, gray, or blue skin
☛ Palpitations
☛ Rapid breathing
☛ Swelling of the abdomen or other areas
☛ Low blood pressure
☛ Weak or absent pulse
Cardiac tamponade is an emergency condition requiring immediate attention.
Treatment Options
☛ Pericardiocentesis (procedure that uses a needle to remove fluid from the pericardial sac)
☛ Pericardial Window (A procedure to cut and remove part of the pericardium) - if necessary.
☛ Fluids are given to maintain normal blood pressure until pericardiocentesis can be performed. Medications that increase blood pressure may also help sustain the patient's life until the fluid is drained.
☛ The patient may be given oxygen. This reduces the workload on the heart by decreasing tissue demands for blood flow.
The cause of the tamponade must be identified and treated.
Tamponade is life-threatening if untreated.
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