00. Cardiac tamponade

The term cardiac tamponade (CT) designates the circulatory consequences of compression caused by accumulation of blood or fluid in the pericardial space. The poor distensibility of the normal pericardium means that rapid pericardial effusion results in compression and hinders filling of the cardiac chambers. This explains the hemodynamic effect of acute circulatory failure, with a low arterial pressure and a high central venous pressure (values above 20 cm H 2 O are common).

Echography has simplified the diagnostic approach to CT, which is a circulatory emergency. Diagnosis previously involved a perilous procedure: exploratory puncture of the pericardium. Echocardiographic exploration also detects signs of incipient compression before it has a major impact. Observation of these signs has refined the pathophysiological analysis of CT.

Echography has simplified the diagnostic approach to CT, which is a circulatory emergency. Diagnosis previously involved a perilous procedure: exploratory puncture of the pericardium. Echocardiographic exploration also detects signs of incipient compression before it has a major impact. Observation of these signs has refined the pathophysiological analysis of CT.