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Cardiac Tamponade Video
ACLS Certification Association videos have been peer-reviewed for medical accuracy by the ACA medical review board.
Video at a Glance
- Cardiac tamponade occurs when too much fluid in the pericardial sac presses on the heart, decreasing cardiac output.
- The excess fluid squeezes the ventricles.
- Causes include trauma, infection, and autoimmune disease.
- Symptoms are grouped in Beck’s Triad. That includes hypotension, quiet heart sounds, and distended jugular veins.
- In ACLS, cardiac tamponade is considered a reversible cause of cardiac arrest.
- Removal of the excess fluid is necessary.
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