Cardiac Tamponade is usually a complication of an inflammatory response in the sac that holds the heart and keeps things in your chest from rubbing together (pericarditis).
Inflammation in this area can cause fluid to leak from the vascular compartment to the extravascular space (from the blood vessels into the tissues). The fluid buildup within/beneath the pericardial sack constricts the heart chambers, keeping them from filling completely and subsequently reducing cardiac output.
Sometimes a viral, bacterial, or fungal infective agent is identified. Other times heart surgery or autoimmune disease (coocommittant with other illnesses like AIDS or tuberculosis) can be identified as a cause. But many times the exact cause is not easily identifiable.
Diagnostic tool is a echocardiogram.
Treatment is pericardiocentisis.
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