RT Book, Section A1 Barlotta, Kevin S. A1 Stack, Lawrence B. A1 Knoop, Kevin J. A2 Knoop, Kevin J. A2 Stack, Lawrence B. A2 Storrow, Alan B. A2 Thurman, R. Jason SR Print(0) ID 1181040877 T1 Cardiac Tamponade with Pericardiocentesis T2 The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e YR 2021 FD 2021 PB McGraw-Hill PP New York, NY SN 9781260134940 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181040877 RD 2024/03/29 AB Cardiac tamponade occurs when fluid or blood accumulates in the pericardium at a rate that does not allow adequate filling of the ventricles resulting in diminished cardiac output and shock. Symptoms include shortness of breath, orthopnea, dyspnea on exertion, syncope, and symptoms of inadequate perfusion. Hypotension, tachycardia, pulsus paradoxus, and JVD are examination findings seen in tamponade. Causes include blunt or penetrating trauma, malignancy, hypothyroidism, uremia, myocardial or aortic rupture, and pericarditis. Rapid filling of the pericardial sac (50-100 mL) is more likely to cause cardiovascular compromise than gradual accumulation.