Predisposing:

-Age
-Gender
-Race

Precipitating:
-gunshot wound
-penetrating trauma
-heart surgery

Extravasation of fluid from

the external wall of the heart
into the pericardium

pericardium will start to

stretch in order to
accumulate more fluid
fluid that accumulates in the
pericardium applies pressure
and injures cardiac wall

inflammatory response is
induced
production of chemotaxis
factors
Bradykinin

Histamine

Prostaglandi
ns

increases blood flow

to the area

increases fluid
present in the
pericardium

S/Sx: Muffled
Heart Sounds

Treatment:
Pericardiocente
sis

S/Sx:
Jugular
Vein
Distentio

pressure in
the right
atrium and
ventricle
backflows into
superior and
inferior vena
Extravasation
in brain

Increased
Intracranial
Pressure

Brain damage

Decreased
LOC

fluid present in the

pericardium increases too
rapidly; pericardium cannot
stretch in time to respond the
increasing fluid volume in the
pericardial sac
pressure in the pericardial
sac increases and builds
up and compresses the
right atrium and right
ventricle

during right atrial and

right ventricular filling;
compressed right atrium
and ventricle become
incapable of handling
increasing fluid volume
resulting to septal shift
shift in septum decreases
left atrial and left
ventricular space
results into decreased
cardiac output r/t
incompetent left ventricular
contraction
decreased blood supply to
vital organs

increases fluid
extravasation into
ecf

excessive fluid
accumulation
prevents heart
from pumping
due to excessive
pressure
Cardiac arrest

DEAT
H

S/Sx: Hypotension,
pale cyanotic nail

Increased
pressure on
pulmonary vein
backflow of blood
to lungs
extravasation
of fluid due to
increased
pressure

Coma
brain
DEAT
H

Brain
hypoxia

other vital
organs: Lungs,
heart, liver,
kidneys
shock
(obstructive
shock)
DEAT
H

pulmonary
edema
S/Sx: Difficulty
Breathing