What causes cardiac tamponade?

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Multiple Choice

What causes cardiac tamponade?

Cardiac tamponade occurs when fluid builds up in the pericardial cavity, increasing the pressure around the heart and preventing the ventricles from filling properly during diastole. The heart needs adequate filling to stroke effectively; when pericardial pressure rises, filling declines, cardiac output drops, and blood pressure falls. The pericardial sac normally contains only a small amount of lubricating fluid, so any rapid accumulation or a large volume can quickly impair filling. Clinically this can present with hypotension, jugular venous distension, and muffled heart sounds, and may show pulsus paradoxus in some cases. Blockage of the coronary arteries causes myocardial ischemia or infarction, not tamponade. Rupture of the aorta leads to life-threatening bleeding, not the pressure from fluid in the pericardial space. Inflammation of the endocardium refers to endocarditis, which affects the heart valves rather than the pericardial space. Tamponade specifically stems from fluid buildup in the pericardial cavity restricting heart filling.

Cardiac tamponade occurs when fluid builds up in the pericardial cavity, increasing the pressure around the heart and preventing the ventricles from filling properly during diastole. The heart needs adequate filling to stroke effectively; when pericardial pressure rises, filling declines, cardiac output drops, and blood pressure falls. The pericardial sac normally contains only a small amount of lubricating fluid, so any rapid accumulation or a large volume can quickly impair filling. Clinically this can present with hypotension, jugular venous distension, and muffled heart sounds, and may show pulsus paradoxus in some cases.

Blockage of the coronary arteries causes myocardial ischemia or infarction, not tamponade. Rupture of the aorta leads to life-threatening bleeding, not the pressure from fluid in the pericardial space. Inflammation of the endocardium refers to endocarditis, which affects the heart valves rather than the pericardial space. Tamponade specifically stems from fluid buildup in the pericardial cavity restricting heart filling.

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