Pericardial tamponade
Pericardial Tamponade is a serious medical condition that occurs when fluid in the pericardium (the sac around the heart) builds up, resulting in increased pressure on the heart. This pressure prevents the heart's ventricles from expanding fully and reduces the heart's ability to pump blood effectively, leading to a decrease in blood flow to the body.
Causes[edit | edit source]
Pericardial Tamponade can be caused by a variety of factors. These include trauma to the chest, such as a stab wound or blunt trauma from a car accident, pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium), a ruptured aortic aneurysm, or complications from heart surgery. Other less common causes include cancer spreading to the pericardium, kidney failure, hypothyroidism, and certain infections.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
Symptoms of Pericardial Tamponade can vary depending on the severity of the condition. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, and rapid heartbeat. Other symptoms may include light-headedness, fainting, and swelling of the abdomen or legs.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Diagnosis of Pericardial Tamponade typically involves a physical examination, medical history, and various tests. These tests may include an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to create images of the heart and pericardium, a chest X-ray, and an electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures the heart's electrical activity.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for Pericardial Tamponade aims to decrease the pressure on the heart by draining the excess fluid. This can be achieved through a procedure known as pericardiocentesis, where a needle is inserted into the pericardium to remove the fluid. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to create a new path for the fluid to drain.
Prognosis[edit | edit source]
The prognosis for Pericardial Tamponade depends on the underlying cause and the speed at which treatment is administered. With prompt treatment, most people can recover fully. However, if left untreated, Pericardial Tamponade can be life-threatening.
See Also[edit | edit source]
 | This cardiovascular system article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
