Cardiac tamponade Flashcards
1
Q
What is it?
A
Accumulation of pericardial fluid, blood, pus or air within the pericardial sac that creates an increase in intra-pericardial pressure, restricting cardiac filling and decreasing cardiac output
2
Q
What are the risk factors?
A
Heart surgery Heart tumour MI HF Lung cancer Severe chest injury Aortic dissection Pericarditis Large idiopathic pericardial effusion
3
Q
How does it present?
A
Tachycardia Hypotension Distant heart sounds Elevated jugular venous pressure SOB Chest pain
4
Q
What are the investigations?
A
Echo ECG CXR FBC ESR Cardiac enzymes
5
Q
What is the management?
A
Emergency drainage
Pericardiocentesis
6
Q
What are the complications?
A
Recurrent pericarditis and pericardial effusion
Organ hypoperfusion
Cardiac arrest
7
Q
What are the ECG findings?
A
Consecutive, normally-conducted QRS complexes that alternate in height
8
Q
Why do you get those ECG findings?
A
Heart swings back and forth within a large fluid-filled pericardium
