High urgency
-Very severe
It consists of a build-up of fluid (usually blood) in the pericardium, which compresses the heart muscle and prevents it from pumping blood properly.
The most common causes are acute heart attack, pericarditis, heart surgery and cancer.
Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, cold and clammy skin and dizziness. A weak pulse and dilated veins in the neck are typical.
Diagnosis is made by history, physical examination and cardiac ultrasound.
Treatment consists of early draining of the pericardium to reduce pressure and allow the heart to pump properly. The underlying cause must also be treated.
- Brian D Hoit. Cardiac tamponade. UpToDate May 04, 2016.
- Adler Y, Charron P, Imazio M, et al. 2015 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases: The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)Endorsed by: The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). Eur Heart J 2015; 36:2921.
- J Soler Soler. Taponamiento cardíaco. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen 1. 12º edición. 570:573.
- T Colchero Meniz, B Santos González, L Rodríguez Padial. Enfermedades del pericardio y miocardio. Manual de Protocolos y Actuación en Urgencias. 3ª edición (2010). 286:287
- Eugene Braunwald. Enfermedades del pericardio. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19º Edición. 1572:1574.
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
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