Cardiac tamponade

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heart, front view

Pericardium

Cardiac tamponade

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Cardiac tamponade

Alternative Names:

Tamponade; Pericardial tamponade

Treatment:

Cardiac tamponade is an emergency condition that requires hospitalization. Treatment is aimed at saving the patient's life, improving heart function, relieving symptoms, and treating the tamponade. This is usually accomplished with pericardiocentesis (a procedure to drain the fluid around the heart) or by cutting and removing part of the pericardium (pericardial window).

Fluids are the initial treatment to maintain normal blood pressure until pericardiocentesis can be performed. Medications that increase blood pressure may also help sustain the patient's life until the fluid is drained.

The patient may be given oxygen, this reduces the workload on the heart by decreasing tissue demands for blood flow.

The cause of the tamponade must be identified and treated. Treatment of the cause may include medications, such as antibiotics, and surgical repair of injury.

Cutting or removing part of the pericardium (surgical pericardiectomy, also known as pericardial window) may be required for most tamponade patients.

Expectations (prognosis):

Tamponade is life-threatening if untreated. The outcome is often good if the condition is treated promptly, but tamponade may recur.

Complications:

Calling your health care provider:

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if symptoms develop. Cardiac tamponade is an emergency condition requiring immediate attention!

Review Date: 7/14/2004
Reviewed By: Norman S. Kato, MD, Surgeon with the Cardiac Care Medical Group, Encino, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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