Final answer:
True. Cardiac tamponade is an immediate threat to life because it prevents the heart from relaxing and filling with blood, leading to decreased blood ejection and possible death if not treated swiftly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cardiac tamponade is a medical condition where excess fluid builds within the pericardial space, putting pressure on the heart and preventing it from relaxing fully between contractions. Over time, this can result in the heart ejecting less blood with each cycle. If the fluid, often blood, accumulates rapidly, even amounts as little as 100 mL can be life-threatening, leading to obstructive shock. Causes can include trauma, myocardial rupture, pericarditis, cancer, and complications from cardiac surgery. Immediate medical intervention, often involving the insertion of drainage tubes, is critical. Untreated, cardiac tamponade can quickly progress to death, making it an immediate threat to life. Thus, the statement is true.
Cardiac tamponade is an immediate threat to life. It occurs when excess fluid, usually blood, accumulates in the pericardial cavity, putting pressure on the heart and preventing it from fully relaxing. This results in decreased blood flow and can lead to death if left untreated. Common causes of cardiac tamponade include trauma, myocardial rupture, pericarditis, cancer, or cardiac surgery.