Cardiac Tamponade: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

The answer is D. Hypotension, muffled heart sounds, jugular vein distention

Cardiac tamponade is characterized by fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac that causes hemodynamic instability. The most common cause of cardiac tamponade is trauma. Other causes include malignancy, uremia, infection, collagen vascular disease, iatrogenic (post-surgery and cardiac invasive surgeries), and post-acute myocardial infarction. Patients may have Beck’s Triad – hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and jugular vein distention. Other clinical features include pulsus paradoxus (abnormally large decrease in systolic blood pressure on inspiration), tachycardia, and a pericardial rub. The best diagnostic test is an echocardiogram. Treatment of pericardial tamponade is a pericardiocentesis, which removes the pericardial fluid. An open surgical approach is preferred as the definitive management of traumatic cases.