Final answer:
Pericardial tamponade is a medical emergency where fluid accumulates in the pericardial cavity, creating pressure on the heart and hindering its normal function. Assessment findings include hypotension, jugular venous distension, muffled heart sounds, and pulsus paradoxus. Causes range from trauma to pericarditis, and prompt treatment is critical.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cardiac tamponade, also known as pericardial tamponade, is a critical condition that occurs when excess fluid, usually blood, accumulates in the pericardial cavity surrounding the heart. This accumulation of fluid increases pressure on the heart, restricting its ability to relax and impairing its chambers from filling properly with blood. This leads to a reduction in blood ejection from the heart with each beat. Assessment findings for pericardial tamponade may include hypotension, jugular venous distension, muffled heart sounds, and a rapid pulse that paradoxically may weaken during inhalations (pulsus paradoxus). Treatment typically involves draining the fluid through a procedure known as pericardiocentesis.
Common causes can include trauma, myocardial rupture, pericarditis, cancer, or post-cardiac surgery complications. The condition can manifest rapidly with a small amount of fluid or gradually with a larger volume, as seen in cases associated with hypothyroidism, leading to advanced symptoms and causing obstructive shock. The obstructive shock is where blood flow is impeded, necessitating urgent medical interventions such as anticoagulants or surgery.