Cardiac tamponade resident survival guide: Difference between revisions

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{{familytree | | | E01 | | E01=<div style="float: left; text-align: left; height: 10em; width: 35em; padding:1em;">'''Choice of treatment'''<br>Based on:<br>❑ Echo findings<br>❑ Size and location of fluid<br>❑ Etiology or precipitating events<br>❑ Risk of procedure<br>❑ '''Hemodynamic status'''</div>}}
{{familytree | | | E01 | | E01=<div style="float: left; text-align: left; height: 10em; width: 35em; padding:1em;">'''Choice of treatment'''<br>Based on:<br>❑ Echo findings<br>❑ Size and location of fluid<br>❑ Etiology or precipitating events<br>❑ Risk of procedure<br>❑ '''Hemodynamic status'''</div>}}
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{{familytree | | | F01 | | |F01=<div style="float: left; text-align: left; height: 8em; width: 35em; padding:1em;">'''Pre-procedural preparation'''<br>❑ Echo to determine the size, location, and to assess if effusion is loculated or not<br>❑ PT/PTT/INR<br>❑ [[Hemorrhagic stroke resident survival guide#Coagulopathy|Reverse all anticoagulation]]<br>❑ Consult to cardiac catheterization lab</div>}}
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Revision as of 17:43, 28 January 2014

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Karol Gema Hernandez, M.D. [2] Ayokunle Olubaniyi, M.B,B.S [3]

Definition

This is a medical emergency which involves a slow or rapid compression of the heart due to the accumulation of fluid, pus, blood, clots, or gas in the pericardium, as a result of effusion, trauma, or rupture of the heart.[1] It is suspected based on history, physical examination, and chest imaging findings, but it is confirmed based on the clinical response observed during or post-pericardial fluid drainage.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

Acute Cardiac Tamponade

Subacute Cardiac Tamponade

Viral - coxsachie, echo, CMV
Bacterial - pneumococcus, streptococcus, staphylococcus
Fungal - blastomyces, cryptococcus, histoplasma, pneumocystis carinii
Tuberculous

Management

 
 
Characterize the symptoms:
❑ Chest pain❑ Cough
❑ Cyanosis ❑ Dysphagia
❑ Dyspnea ❑ Fatigue
❑ Fever❑ Near syncope
❑ Orthopnea❑ Peripheral edema

Or as a feature of a complication

❑ Renal failure❑ Abdominal plethora
❑ Shock liver ❑ Mesenteric ischemia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Patient evaluation:

Obtain a detailed history:
♦ Time course of illness
♦ Concurrent medical illness - hypothyroidism, systemic lupus erythematosus
♦ Trauma
♦ Radiation therapy
♦ Recent cardiac therapeutic procedures
♦ Recent myocardial infarction


Examine the patient:
❑ General- distended neck veins (↑JVP)
❑ Vitals
Tachycardia, tachypnea, hypotension
❑ Cardiopulmonary
♦ Clear lungs
♦ Distant (muffled) heart sounds
♦ Pericardial friction rub
❑ Limbs - peripheral edema
Note
♦ Measure BP and response to inspiration (pulsus paradoxus)
Bradycardia (especially in uremia or hypothyroidism)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emergent therapy
❑ Pulse oximetry
❑ Administer oxygen, if required
❑ Large bore IV lines
❑ Consult to ICU
❑ Fluid rescuscitation (blood, plasma, dextran or saline)
or inotropic support (dobutamine, dopamine)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Urgent Labs:
EKG
Sinus tachycardia, electrical alternans, low QRS voltages
❑ Chest X-ray
♦ Enlarged cardiac silhouette
♦ clear lung fields
Echocardiography
♦ Pericardial effusion
♦ Cardiac chamber collapse (right atrium and ventricle)
♦ Flow variation
♦ Dilation of IVC
CBC
Electrolytes
BUN
Creatinine
Consider additional tests, if necessary:
CT, cardiac MRI - when echo is inconclusive
❑ Thyroid function
❑ Serun ANA (SLE)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Choice of treatment
Based on:
❑ Echo findings
❑ Size and location of fluid
❑ Etiology or precipitating events
❑ Risk of procedure
Hemodynamic status
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pre-procedural preparation
❑ Echo to determine the size, location, and to assess if effusion is loculated or not
❑ PT/PTT/INR
Reverse all anticoagulation
❑ Consult to cardiac catheterization lab
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dos

  • Always suspect cardiac tamponade in any patient presenting with hypotension, tachycardia and distended neck veins (or elevated jugular venous pressure).
  • Always measure pulsus paradoxus whenever you suspect cardiac tamponade.
  • Consider the intrapericardial pressure more than the volume of the pericardial fluid in the management of cardiac tamponade.
  • The drainage of pericardial effusion should be gradual and slow to avoid the precipitation of pulmonary edema.
  • Echocardiography is the primary modality of choice, considering its high specificity and sensitivity, low cost and lack of radiation. CT and cardiac MRI are indicated when echocardiography is inconclusive.
  • Consider 2D and doppler echocardiography prior to discharge to confirm total removal or detect reaccumulation of pericardial fluid.

Don'ts

  • Never delay treatment whenever you suspect cardiac tamponade.
  • Avoid diuretics because it may worsen the central venous pressure.
  • Avoid placing pericardial fluid drainage catheter in situ for > 3 days.
  • Avoid the subcostal approach of pericardiocentesis if coagulopathy is present. Iatrogenic injuries to the liver may be life-threatening.
  • Avoid positive pressure mechanical ventilation. It may further reduce cardiac filling.
  • The use of inotropic agents for hemodynamic support should not be a substitute or cause a delay to pericadiocentesis.

References

  1. Spodick, DH. (2003). "Acute cardiac tamponade". N Engl J Med. 349 (7): 684–90. doi:10.1056/NEJMra022643. PMID 12917306. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

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