Health Encyclopedia

Cardiac tamponade

Definition

Cardiac tamponade is the compression of the heart caused by blood or fluid accumulation in the space between the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) and the pericardium (the outer covering sac of the heart).

Alternative Names

Tamponade; Pericardial tamponade

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

In this condition, blood or fluid collects within the pericardium. This prevents the ventricles from expanding fully, so they cannot adequately fill or pump blood.

Cardiac tamponade is often associated with pericarditis caused by bacterial or viral infections. Heart surgery, dissecting aortic aneurysm (thoracic), wounds to the heart, end-stage lung cancer, and acute MI can all lead to cardiac tamponade.

Other potential causes include heart tumors, kidney failure, recent heart attack, recent open heart surgery, recent invasive heart procedures, radiation therapy to the chest, hypothyroidism and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Cardiac tamponade occurs in approximately 2 out of 10,000 people.

Symptoms

Anxiety, restlessness
Discomfort, sometimes relieved by sitting upright or leaning forward.
Difficulty breathing
Rapid breathing
Fainting, light-headedness
Chest pain
- Radiating to the neck, shoulder, back or abdomen
- Sharp, stabbing
- Worsened by deep breathing or coughing
Swelling of the abdomen or other areas
Skin pale, gray or blue
Palpitations

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Pulse, weak or absent
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Low blood pressure

Signs and tests

Although there are no specific laboratory tests that diagnose tamponade, echocardiogram is first choice to help establish the diagnosis. The heart will often sound uncharacteristically faint during examination with a stethoscope. Peripheral pulses may be weak or absent. Neck veins may be distended but the blood pressure may be low.

The heart rate may be over 100 (normal is 60 to 100 beats per minute), and breathing may be rapid (faster than 12 breaths in an adult per minute). The blood pressure may fall (pulsus paradoxical) when the person inhales deeply.

Fluid in the pericardial sac may show on:
- Chest x-ray
- Echocardiogram
- Chest CT or MRI of chest
- Coronary angiography (may show other changes also)
ECG changes include low voltage wave forms

Treatment

Cardiac tamponade is an emergency condition that requires hospitalization. Treatment is aimed at saving the patient's life, improving heart function, relieving symptoms, and treating the tamponade. This is usually accomplished with pericardiocentesis (a procedure to drain the fluid around the heart) or by cutting and removing part of the pericardium (pericardial window).

Fluids are the initial treatment to maintain normal blood pressure until pericardiocentesis can be performed. Medications that increase blood pressure may also help sustain the patient's life until the fluid is drained.

The patient may be given oxygen, this reduces the workload on the heart by decreasing tissue demands for blood flow.

The cause of the tamponade must be identified and treated. Treatment of the cause may include medications, such as antibiotics, and surgical repair of injury.

Cutting or removing part of the pericardium (surgical pericardiectomy, also known as pericardial window) may be required for most tamponade patients.

Expectations (prognosis)

Tamponade is life-threatening if untreated. The outcome is often good if the condition is treated promptly, but tamponade may recur.

Complications

Calling your health care provider

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if symptoms develop. Cardiac tamponade is an emergency condition requiring immediate attention!

Prevention

Many cases are not preventable. Awareness of your personal risk factors may allow early diagnosis and treatment.

Review Date:7/14/2006
Reviewed By:J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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