Cardiac tamponade

Cardiac tamponade Dx:

- Sudden cessation of significant mediastinal bleeding.

- low CO, hypotension, narrow pulse pressure, respiratory variation.

- equilibration of intracardiac pressures: R. atrial - PCW = L. atrial

- CXR: widened mediastinum, displaced R. heart border (suggests a clot adjacent to R. atrium)

- tachycardia

- dysrhythmia

- low ECG amplitude

- PEA

- No improvement in hemodynamics despite volume infusions and inotropic support

- echocardiography - TEE better (R. or L. ventricular diastolic collapse is a reliable sign)