…cardiac tamponade. The classical signs of cardiac tamponade are hypotension, muffled heart sounds and jugular venous distention. Other frequent symptoms are pulsus paradoxus, pericardial friction…

…refers to inflammation of the myocardial (muscle) tissue. However, it is often difficult to differentiate pericarditis and myocarditis, and they tend to accompany each other…

…sample. Indications Diagnostic paracentesis: Newly detected ascites — always. Every admission of a patient with known ascites. Clinical deterioration in a cirrhotic patient with ascites: fever…

…effusion of unclear cause. An effusion not confidently explained by heart failure must be aspirated. Suspected empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion. Suspected malignancy, tuberculous pleurisy…

…tricuspid inflow The echocardiographic counterpart of pulsus paradoxus Contraindications In overt tamponade with shock there are no absolute contraindications other than the conditions in which…

…causes of pericardial effusion. Important clinical associations include: Idiopathic or viral pericarditis Malignant pericardial disease Tuberculosis Purulent or bacterial pericarditis Trauma Cardiac surgery and other…