Snapshot A 19-year-old man is stabbed in the left side of his chest. His blood pressure on presentation is 90/60 mmHg with a pulse of 130/min. On physical exam, he has muffled heart sounds and distended jugular veins. Upon inspiration, his blood pressure drops to 75/55 mmHg. His extremities are cool and clammy. He is immediately rushed to the operating room. Introduction Clinical definition accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac that restricts ventricular filling Epidemiology risk factors pericarditis malignancy uremia systemic lupus erythematosus malignancy tuberculosis penetrating trauma Etiology pericardial effusion hemorrhage into pericardial sac iatrogenic Pathoanatomy pericardium the pericardium is an elastic sac that can stretch to accommodate normal cardiac volume expansion however, if stretched beyond normal physiological expansion, the pericardium will stiffen Pathogenesis cardiac tamponade increased pericardial pressure from the fluid accumulation causes compression of the cardiac chambers this results in decreased cardiac output and blood pressure pulsus paradoxus inhalation increases venous return → expands the right ventricle in cardiac tamponade, the stiff pericardium will prevent the free wall from expanding the only area for the right ventricle to expand is the interventricular septum, which will compress the left ventricle compression of the left ventricle → decreased filling of the left heart → decreased blood pressure Associated conditions ruptured ascending aortic dissection ventricular free wall rupture from myocardial infarction Prognosis in acute cases, cardiac tamponade can develop rapidly in chronic cases, cardiac tamponade will develop gradually, as the pericardium can adjust slowly to the increased pressure over time Presentation Symptoms chest pain fatigability often unresponsive to fluid resuscitation Physical exam Beck triad muffled heart sounds jugular venous distention hypotension cardiac ↑ heart rate pericardial rub if the patient has an inflammatory pericarditis pulsus paradoxus decrease of blood pressure > 10 mmHg during inhalation pulmonary shortness of breath lung fields are typically clear extremities cold and clammy peripheral cyanosis Imaging Echocardiography indications for diagnosis of cardiac tamponade most accurate test for all patients findings diastolic collapse of the right heart fluid in the pericardial space swinging of the heart within the effusion Radiography indication for all patients views chest findings enlarged cardiac silhouette seen only in subacute cardiac tamponade in acute cases, pericardium will not accomodate build up of > 200 cc of fluid, which is required to appear enlarged on radiograph Studies Electrocardiogram (ECG) indication for all patients findings low voltage electrical alternans variations in the height of the QRS complex from swinging of the heart in the chest Right heart catheterization indication typically not performed as an initial test finding equilibration of pressures in all 4 chambers during diastole Making the diagnosis based on clinical presentation, ECG, echocardiogram, and chest radiography Differential Constrictive pericarditis distinguishing factors also has pulsus paradoxus, but also presents with Kussmaul sign increase (or absence of decline) in jugular venous pressure with inhalation pericardial knock Tension pneumothorax distinguishing factors decreased or absent breath sounds hyperresonant percussion Treatment Management approach all approaches focus on removal of the fluid in the pericardium Conservative close monitoring and volume expansion indication cardiac tamponade without hemodynamic compromise modalities serial echocardiographs intravenous bolus of fluids Procedural percutaneous pericardiocentesis indication first-line treatment Operative surgical drainage indications patients with coagulopathy or need for biopsy purulent pericarditis traumatic cardiac tamponade surgical drainage with pericardial window placement indication patients with chronic pericardial effusions patients who decompensate Complications Death
QUESTIONS 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5 Previous Next Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (M1.CV.15.75) A 45-year-old male presents to the emergency department following a 5-car motor vehicle collision requiring mechanical extraction. On arrival to the ED, his airway is patent with normal breathing. His pulse is 110/min, blood pressure is 85/40 mmHg, respirations are 22/min, and oxygen saturation of 98% on room air. He is in clear distress and has the findings shown in Figure A. A chest radiograph and ultrasound examination are performed, which are shown in Figures B and C respectively. It is noted that his systolic BP decreases by 15 mmHg whenever he inspires. Which of the following diseases can exhibit a similar manifestation? QID: 106789 FIGURES: A B C Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Pleural effusion 20% (53/269) 2 Rib fracture 3% (8/269) 3 Tension pneumothorax 39% (105/269) 4 Aortic dissection 15% (41/269) 5 Congestive heart failure 20% (54/269) M 1 Question Complexity D Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 3 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (M1.CV.13.148) A 34-year-old patient is brought to the emergency room after a motor vehicle accident. An EKG shows sinus tachycardia and chest radiograph reveals an enlarged cardiac silhouette. While observing sinus tachycardia on the patient's telemetry, you note that the radial pulse cannot be palpated during inspiration. What should be the next step in management of this patient? QID: 100664 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 IV Heparin 3% (3/113) 2 Pericardiocentesis 72% (81/113) 3 Chest CT scan 16% (18/113) 4 Pericardial window 4% (4/113) 5 Insert chest tube 4% (4/113) M 2 Question Complexity E Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 2 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (M1.CV.13.114) A 27-year-old male arrives in the emergency department with a stab wound over the precordial chest wall. The patient is in distress and is cold, sweaty, and pale. Initial physical examination is significant for muffled heart sounds, distended neck veins, and a 3 cm stab wound near the left sternal border. Breath sounds are present bilaterally without evidence of tracheal deviation. Which of the following additional findings would be expected on further evaluation? QID: 100630 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Decrease in the patient's heart rate by 15 beats per minute with inspiration 7% (9/125) 2 Elevated blood pressure to 170/110 4% (5/125) 3 Steadily decreasing heart rate to 60 beats per minute 6% (7/125) 4 15 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure with inspiration 74% (92/125) 5 Decrease in central venous pressure by 5 mmHg with inspiration 5% (6/125) M 1 Question Complexity D Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic
All Videos (1) Login to View Community Videos Login to View Community Videos Pulsus paradoxus Luigi Bonini Cardiovascular - Cardiac Tamponade D 2/15/2016 129 views 5.0 (5) Cardiovascular | Cardiac Tamponade Cardiovascular - Cardiac Tamponade Listen Now 17:1 min 5/24/2022 26 plays 1.0 (1)