Final answer:
Pericardial tamponade is the condition that best matches the symptoms presented by the patient with blunt chest trauma, with treatment focused on draining the excess fluid from the pericardial cavity.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient with blunt chest trauma showing signs such as persistent jugular venous distention, tachycardia, and hypotension that does not resolve with fluid resuscitation should be considered for specific conditions. Among the options provided, pericardial tamponade fits these symptoms best. Pericardial tamponade occurs when excess fluid accumulates in the pericardial cavity, exerting pressure on the heart and preventing it from fully relaxing and filling with blood during its resting phase between beats. This condition can decrease the heart's output and lead to signs and symptoms such as hypotension, jugular venous distention, and tachycardia.
Treatment for pericardial tamponade includes the removal of fluid from the pericardial cavity, which can be a life-saving procedure. This disorder can result from trauma, myocardial rupture, or complications following cardiac surgery, among other causes. Unlike conditions such as pneumothorax which involves air in the chest cavity, or rib fracture, which typically would not cause hypotension unless associated with significant bleeding, cardiac tamponade directly affects the heart’s function and can present with the classic symptoms as described.