Cardiac tamponade: Pathophysiology, etiology, epidemiology, prognosis, symptomatology, clinical findings, differential diagnoses, laboratory studies, imaging, electrocardiography, pericardiocentesis and surgical treatment

Cardiac tamponade (CTM) occurs when an accumulation of fluid, blood, pus, gas, or tumor in the pericardium result in decreased ventricular filling and hemodynamic compromise. It is a life-threatening condition, and prompt diagnosis and recognition of the cause is essential for therapy/palliation. It may follow trauma or cardiac interventions such as myocardial biopsy, radio-frequency ablation or other forms of cardiac catheterization. Symptoms of CTM can be non-specific such as anxiety, restlessness, palpitations, dyspnea, chest pain radiating to the neck, shoulders the epigastrium or back. The chest pain is exacerbated by deep inspiratory effort or a cough and occasionally relieved by an upright posture or by leaning forwards. Syncope and light-headedness' with pale or cyanosed skin and abdominal swelling and peripheral edema, feeble or absent pulse are other features of CTM.