Study note

Cardiac tamponade: mechanism and causes

THE CONTEXT

Cardiac tamponade is acute heart failure resulting from compression of the heart by a large pericardial effusion.

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Cardiac compression: A large pericardial effusion compresses the heart and causes acute heart failure.

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Pericarditis: Tamponade may complicate any form of pericarditis.

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Malignancy: Malignant disease can cause tamponade.

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Trauma: Blood entering the pericardial space after trauma can cause tamponade.

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Myocardial infarction: Rupture of the myocardial free wall following infarction can cause tamponade.

NEETx

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