Cardiac tamponade is the accumulation of pericardial fluid, blood, pus or air within the pericardial space that creates an increase in intra-pericardial pressure, restricting cardiac filling and decreasing cardiac output.

Cardiac tamponade is a cardiac emergency and can be fatal if it is not quickly diagnosed and treated promptly.

The diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion and supported by evidence of haemodynamic compromise on echocardiography.

Risk factors:

• Trauma
• Malignancy - May be secondary to therapy rather then metastatic pericardial disease
• Aortic dissection
• Purulent pericarditis
• large idiopathic pericardial effusion
• TB

PC

Becks triad - Elavated JVP, Muffled heart sounds, Hypotension

Also -

• Dyspnoea (90%)
• Tachycardia
• Chest pain
• abdo pain

Examination: