Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Cardiac tamponade

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Tamponade; Pericardial tamponade


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

Other symptoms that may occur with this disorder:

  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Low blood pressure
  • Weak or absent pulse

Signs and tests

There are no specific laboratory tests that diagnose tamponade. Echocardiogram is typically used to help establish the diagnosis.

Signs:

  • Blood pressure may fall (pulsus paradoxical) when the person inhales deeply
  • Breathing may be rapid
  • Heart rate may be over 100 (normal is 60 to 100 beats per minute)
  • Heart sounds are faint during examination with a stethoscope
  • Neck veins may be abnormally extended (distended) but the blood pressure may be low
  • Peripheral pulses may be weak or absent

Other tests may include:

  • Chest CT or MRI of chest
  • Chest x-ray
  • Coronary angiography
  • ECG

Review Date: 05/17/2010
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (5/17/2010).

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)