Final answer:
Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition where fluid accumulation in the pericardial cavity compresses the heart, preventing it from adequately filling with blood and detrimentally affecting cardiac function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condition called cardiac tamponade involves compression of the heart by an abnormal accumulation of fluid or clotted blood in the pericardial cavity. Cardiac tamponade emerges when excess fluid, usually blood, builds within the pericardial space, making it difficult for the heart to relax and fill with blood for the next contraction. This pressure leads to the heart's chambers holding slightly less blood per cycle, consecutively reducing the amount of blood ejected from the heart. When fluid accumulation occurs rapidly, even a small amount such as 100 mL after trauma, can cause cardiac tamponade. It is critical to treat this condition, as it can lead to severe complications or death if left unchecked.