Cardiac tamponade, also known as pericardial tamponade is an uncommon condition that occur when blood or fluid builds up in the space between the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) and the pericardium (the outer covering sac of the heart). Fluid that collects in the pericardial sac can exert enough pressure to prevent the heart from relaxing completely between beats. Severe pericardial fluid pressure can cause a drop in blood pressure, shock, abnormal heart rhythms, and death.

Individuals who experience cardiac tamponade often describe one or more of these symptoms:

• Most people with cardiac tamponade have some shortness of breath.
• People with Cardiac tamponade have low blood pressure.
• Muffled heart sounds occur in cardiac tamponade.
• Sharp chest pain, often related to pericarditis occurs that dissipate by the time and the more severe cardiac tamponade condition develops.
• Person feels Anxiety and discomfort which is sometimes relieved by sitting upright or leaning forward.
• Swelling of the abdomen or other areas can occur.
• Clinical sign, which may not be directly evident to the patient, is that venous blood pressure rises which causes the distended jugular veins in the neck as returning blood can’t flow into the heart.
• Hypotension and a narrowing pulse pressure occur.
• Fatigue or weakness is another symptom of cardiac tamponade.

Cardiac tamponade is the compression of the heart characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart). This fluid buildup puts pressure on the heart, making it difficult for the ventricles of the heart to fill with blood and resulting in cardiac tamponade. Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency. Cardiac tamponade occurs in approximately 2 out of 10,000 people. The overall risk of death depends on the speed of diagnosis, the treatment provided, and the underlying cause of the tamponade.

Cardiac tamponade may be caused by any of the following:

• Effusions caused by tumors often lead to tamponade, eliciting bleeding in the pericardium. Blood accumulates more rapidly than a transudate and more commonly causes tamponade. Read the rest of this entry →

Cardiac tamponade, also known as pericardial tamponade, is an emergency that occur when blood or fluid builds up in the space between the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) and the pericardium (the outer covering sac of the heart). Fluid that collects in the pericardial sac can exert enough pressure to prevent the heart from relaxing completely between beats. Usually, this fluid has accumulated rapidly, and the increase in pericardial pressure causes a sudden decrease in cardiac output. Severe pericardial fluid pressure can cause a drop in blood pressure, shock, abnormal heart rhythms, and death.

Cardiac tamponade related to trauma or HIV is more common in young adults. Cardiac tamponade can be caused by anything that inflames or injures the pericardium. Some common causes are pericarditis, chest trauma and viral or bacterial infection. In a patient with cardiac tamponade, the heart experiences reduced stroke volume. This results in decreased oxygenation. The patient may have a very rapid pulse, and symptoms such as chest pain, anxiety, and extreme discomfort can be observed in the patient. Read the rest of this entry →