title: [Cardiac tamponade].
abstract: Cardiac tamponade is an emergency situation. Diagnosis is to be suspected when an elevation of systemic venous pressure, a decline in systemic arterial pressure and a clinical context of neoplasia or recent acute pericarditis are associated. Transthoracic echocardiogram is the gold-standard of diagnosis, and allows the accurate diagnosis of a large pericardial effusion: precise localisation and haemodynamic evaluation are needed before therapeutic decision. Pericardiocentesis is the only appropriate treatment. Surgical procedure, or less traumatic echo-guided pericardiocentesis, provide rapid haemodynamic relief of symptoms. Prognosis is determined by aetiology.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie Centre hospitalier Sud-Francilien, Corbeil-Essonnes.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lardoux
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vayre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezzano
mesh_terms: D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D004452:Echocardiography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D020519:Pericardiocentesis; D011379:Prognosis