Cardiac Tamponade (Noun)
Meaning
Mechanical compression of the heart resulting from large amounts of fluid collecting in the pericardial space and limiting the heart's normal range of motion.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Cardiac tamponade was diagnosed in the patient after a traumatic chest injury caused fluid to accumulate in the pericardial space.
- The patient's blood pressure dropped rapidly due to cardiac tamponade, which made it difficult for the medical team to maintain a stable cardiovascular status.
- The echocardiogram showed a large pericardial effusion causing cardiac tamponade, which required immediate pericardiocentesis to relieve the compressive force.
- Cardiac tamponade can be a life-threatening complication of cancer or infection, underscoring the need for prompt recognition and intervention.
- The pathophysiology of cardiac tamponade involves a physical restriction of cardiac filling and contraction, which severely impairs the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.