Hs & Ts - Tamponade

Cardiac tamponade is one of the reversible causes of cardiac arrest that we should consider when working a code. Cardiac tamponade or pericardial tamponade is caused by an accumulation of blood or other fluid in the sac around the heart. The sac cannot expand so pressure is exerted on the heart, limiting its ability to pump effectively. A history of recent chest trauma, cardiac procedures, and diseases could lead us to suspect tamponade. Pre-arrest signs of tamponade include tachycardia, JVD, muffle heart sounds, and narrowing blood pressure. Pericardiocentesis is the intervention performed to relieve a cardiac tamponade and involves inserting a needle through the chest wall and into the pericardial space. This procedure should only be performed by trained healthcare professionals functioning within their scope of practice. Check out the Pass ACLS Twitter feed on 12/29/2021 for an autopsy video showing a cardiac tamponade. Link: https://twitter.com/PassACLS (https://twitter.com/PassACLS) Connect with me: https://twitter.com/PassACLS (@PassACLS) on Twitter https://www.linkedin.com/company/pass-acls-podcast/ (@Pass-ACLS-Podcast) on LinkedIn