Tamponade

Question 1

what can cause pericardial effusion?

Answer 1

trauma, heart surgery (weakened muscle rupture), MI ventricular wall rupture, aortic dissection, cancers, uremic pericarditis irritating serous pericardium, chronic inflammation or hypothyroidism

Question 1

what can cause pericardial effusion?

Answer 1

trauma, heart surgery (weakened muscle rupture), MI ventricular wall rupture, aortic dissection, cancers, uremic pericarditis irritating serous pericardium, chronic inflammation or hypothyroidism

Question 2

key sign of tamponade?

Answer 2

drop in systolic blood pressure during inspiration

this is due to increased venous return which would normally cause dilation of the right ventricle.

Question 3

what is pulsus paradoxus?

Answer 3

decrease in systolic BP of more than 10mmHg

Question 4

symptoms of tamponade Becks triad?

Answer 4

distended jugular veins
hypotension
distant heart sounds

tachycardia
coughing dyspnoea
weakness
lightheadedness
heart may stop beating

Question 5

ECG findings cardiac tamponade?

Answer 5

tachycardia
low QRS complex voltage
electrical alternans (QRS complexes have different heights)

Question 6

what can echocardiography show?

Answer 6

excess fluid
swinging heart

Question 7

what does cardiac catheterisation show?

Answer 7

equal pressure in all 4 chambers

Question 8

treatment of tamponade?

Answer 8

pericardiocentesis