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Cardiac Tamponade

Jeremy Golding, FAAFP, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • An accumulation of fluid within the pericardium that causes compression of the chambers of the heart, impairing diastolic filling, reducing cardiac output, and ultimately leading to ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Dyspnea: most sensitive symptom (88%)

  • Vague chest pain or an overall subjective sense of discomfort

  • Syncope or presyncopal symptoms

  • Altered mentation from poor perfusion

  • Nausea or abdomin...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

Maintain hemodynamic stability until definitive drainage, ICU monitoring; may consider Swan-Ganz catheter if time allows 

MEDICATION

First Line

Fluid resuscitation 
  • Fluid bolus w...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Follow-up echocardiogram may be used to evaluate for recurrence of effusions. 

DIET

Following a heart-healthy diet is recommended. 

PROGNOSIS

Acute ...

REFERENCES

1
Alerhand S, Adrian RJ, Long B, et al. Pericardial tamponade: A comprehensive emergency medicine and echocardiography review. Am J Emerg Med. 2022;58:159-174 PMID: 35696801.
2
...

CODES

ICD10

I31.4 Cardiac tamponade 

SNOMED

35304003 Cardiac tamponade (disorder) 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Cardiac tamponade is a potentially reversible cause of pulseless electrical activity.

  • Checking for pulsus paradoxus may be a useful bedside maneuver with reasonable sensitivity in most ...

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