Cardiac tamponade is a serious medical condition caused by fluid accumulating in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart, putting pressure on the heart and preventing it from filling properly. Symptoms include chest pain, difficulty breathing, and low blood pressure. Diagnosis involves echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray or CT scan. Treatment is pericardiocentesis to drain the fluid via needle, with careful monitoring of vital signs.

1. CARDIAC TAMPONADE
Mrs. D.Melba Sahaya
Sweety.D
M.Sc Nursing
GIMSAR

2. Cardiac tamponade is a serious
medical condition in which
blood or fluids fill the space
between the sac that encases
the heart and the heart
muscle. This places extreme
pressure on your heart. The
pressure prevents the heart’s
ventricles from expanding
fully and keeps your heart
from functioning properly. So
the heart can’t pump enough

3. • Cardiac tamponade is a clinical syndrome
caused by the accumulation of fluid in the
pericardial space, resulting in reduced
ventricular filling and subsequent
hemodynamic compromise. Cardiac
tamponade is a medical emergency.
• Cardiac tamponade is cardiac
dysfunction caused by external
compression of heart by the accumulation
of excessive contents in the pericardial
space

4. • Cardiac tamponade is the
accumulation of excess fluid within
the pericardial space, resulting in
impaired cardiac filling, reduction in
stroke volume, and epicardial
coronary artery compression with
resultant myocardial ischemia. This
fluid, which can be blood , pus, or air
in the pericardial sac. Accumulates
fast enough and in sufficient quantity
to compress the heart and restrict
blood flow in & out of the ventricles.

5. Incidence : 2-5 cases per 10000
• 2% penetrating injuries result
into cardiac tamponade •
• In adults male: female = 1.25:1

6. • Cardiac tamponade develops due to pericardial
effusion
• Pericardial effusion: accumulation of excess fluid in
pericardial space It may occur rapidly or insidiously
 Rapid pericardial effusion
• Trauma : both stabbing and blunt
• Post myocardial infarction
• Heart surgery (open heart surgery, CABG)
• Aortic dissection
• Drugs and medications ( antihypertensives e.g.
minoxidil, hydralazine , procainamide)

7. Insidious pericardial effusion
 • Cancers ( lung or breast cancer) 30-60%
 • Infections (viral, bacterial, fungal) 5-10%
 • Uremic pericarditis (10-15%)
 • Hypothyroidism
 • Chronic inflammation of connective tissue (SLE,
rheumatoid)
 high levels of radiation to the chest
 kidney failure

8. Pleural effusion due to various causes exert pressure in heart walls
Impairs relaxation and filling of the ventricles Chambers do not fill
properly
Less cardiac output (too little
oxygen reaches the tissues)
Increase venous pressure
Hypotension,
shock ,
Reflex
tachycardia
↑JVP hepatomegaly ascites
peripheral edema
Rales
Systemic Congestion Pulmonary congestion

9. • Chest discomfort
• Pleuritic pain
• Tachypnea and dyspnea on exertion that
progresses to air hunger at rest are the key
symptoms
• Convulsions, unconscious
• Most patients are weak and faint at
presentation and can have vague symptoms
such as anorexia, dysphagia, and cough
• The initial symptom may also be one of the
complications of tamponade, such as renal
failure

10. • Elevated venous pressure , Distended
neck veins
• Kussmaul’s sign{distended neck
veins}
• Hypotension
• Narrow pulse pressure
• Dyspnoea
• Cyanosis of lips and nails
• Restlessness and anxiety
• Pain in the right upper abdomen,
Upset stomach
• Fever, for any infection

11. • Restlessness and anxiety
• Diaphoresis
• Muffled heart sounds
• Pulsus paradoxus
• Beck's triad (cardiology)
• Beck's triad. :- Classical cardiac tamponade
presents three signs, known as Beck's triad-
Hypotension occurs because of decreased
stroke volume, - jugular venous distension
due to impaired venous return to the heart –
muffled heart sounds due to fluid inside the
pericardium

12. • History Collection :- Collect history regarding the
etiological factors and symptoms
• Physical Examination :- Beck's triad, Pulsus
paradoxus (a drop of at least 10 mmHg in arterial
blood pressure on inspiration) ,There may also be
general signs & symptoms of shock (such as
tachycardia , more than 90 beats) per minute
breathlessness and decreasing level of
consciousness) , Can be bradycardia? (uremia and
patients with hypothyroidism) ,Rub is a frequent
finding in patients with inflammatory effusions

13. Electrocardiographic Findings :- May be associated
with ST segment , low voltage QRS complexes , In some
cases, electrical alternans will be present in which case the
height of the QRS varies from beat to beat , Tachycardia
will likely be present as well , Combined P and QRS
alternation is virtually specific for tamponade

14. • Echocardiogram :- This scan provides a
detailed image of the heart, which may help
to detect the fluid in the pericardial sac or a
collapsed ventricle.
• Chest X-ray:- An X-ray of the chest shows if
the heart is abnormally large or an unusual
shape due to fluid build up..

15. • Computerized tomography (CT) scan:-
A CT scan of the chest can confirm the
presence of extra fluid in the pericardium.
• Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA):-
An MRA uses a magnetic field and radio
waves to detect any abnormalities in how the
blood flows through the blood vessels of the
heart.

16. Heart failure
Pulmonary edema
Bleeding
Shock
Death

17. • The main aim of client with cardiac Tamponade is :
• 1. Save the patient life
• 2. improve the heart functions
• 3. Relive from symptoms
• Treatment that are administered for cardiac
tamponade include:
• 1. IV fluids to maintain normal BP
• 2. Antibiotics
• 3. Supplemental oxygen to reduce work load on the
heart

18. 4.Bed rest and leg elevation
5. Inotropic drugs ( Dobutamine)
Mechanical ventilation with positive
airway pressure should be avoided in
patients with tamponade, because this
further decreases cardiac output

19. • PERICARDIOCENTESIS •
Pericardiocentesis, also called a
pericardial tap, is a surgical invasive
procedure ( use both diagnostic and
therapeutic purpose) in which
abnormal or excessive fluid is
removed from the pericardium sac the
sac around your heart. Or
Pericardiocentesis is the removal by
needle of pericardial fluid from the
sac surrounding the heart for
diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

20. • Monitor strictly vital signs, especially respiratory frequency.
• Give the semi-Fowler position if not contraindicated.
• Give oxygen as indicated
• Monitor urine output hourly; a drop in urine output may
indicate decreased renal perfusion as a result of decreased
stroke volume secondary to cardiac compression.
• Continuously monitor ECG for dysrhythmia formation,
which may result of myocardial ischemia secondary to
epicardial coronary artery compression.

21. • Monitor the BP every 5 to 15 minutes during the acute
phase.
• Auscultation of breathsounds and heart sounds. Listen to
the murmur.
• Maintain bed rest in a comfortable position during the
acuteperiod.
• Educatethe patient about the disease condition and
treatment
• Educate the patient about the pericardiocentesis
• Encourage the patient to ask questions

22. • Ineffective Breathing Pattern related to
hyperventilation as evidenced by Dyspnea.
• Decreased cardiac output related to reduced
ventricularfilling secondary to increased
intrapericardial pressure as manifested by
tachycardia.
• Activity intolerance related to shortness of
breath and chest discomfort as manifested
restlessness and fatigue