Given the severity of this medical emergency, early diagnosis and treatment are imperative.
By: Mariana Mestizo Hernandez
January 10, 2024
He cardiac tamponadea serious medical condition, is characterized by pressure on the heart caused by the buildup of blood or fluid in the pericardium, the two-layer membrane that surrounds this vital organ.
This disorder negatively impacts the heart’s pumping capacity, manifesting itself through symptoms such as dizziness, difficulty breathing and even fainting, which underlines the urgency of medical intervention.
Diagnosis
The precise diagnosis of cardiac tamponade is based on the evaluation of symptoms, the results of the physical examination and, frequently, the performance of echocardiography in the emergency setting. This procedure, which uses ultrasound waves to generate detailed images of the heart, plays a crucial role in confirming and understanding the extent of the condition.
Conditions that can trigger cardiac tamponade
Various conditions can trigger cardiac tamponade including ruptured aortic aneurysm, advanced lung cancer, acute pericarditis, myocardial infarction, and cardiac surgery.
Chest trauma, especially stab wounds, are also listed as possible triggers, although severe injuries often result in fatalities before medical treatment is achieved.
How to identify it?
The characteristic symptoms of cardiac tamponade include dizziness, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and changes in skin color, such as paleness, sweating, and bluish hue, along with visible swelling of the veins in the neck.
Treatment approach
Given the severity of this medical emergency, early diagnosis and treatment are imperative. Treatment usually involves pericardiocentesis, a procedure in which a needle is used to remove blood or fluid that has accumulated around the heart. In situations where this approach may not be sufficient, thoracotomy and pericardiotomy are used to drain the fluid, and in extreme cases, pericardiectomy, which involves partial removal of the pericardium, may be necessary.
Source consulted here.