Diagnosis

How do we diagnose someone with a Cardiac Tamponade?  Well, it involves using clinical judgement and diagnostic imaging. Since cardiac tamponade is a form of shock, we would expect to see symptoms of poor cardiac perfusion, tachycardia because the heart is having to beat faster due to restriction in movement, and hypotension.  However, most psychical symptoms are fairly nonspecific, so using diagnostic imaging is the best method of diagnosis.  (Spodick, 2003)

The best and easiest method of diagnosis, is performing an echocardiogram or "echo." An echocardiogram uses ultrasound waves to view the heart in motion.  The ultrasound tech will move the transducer around the pericardium to get a view of all portions of the heart in motion.  This will provide an excellent view of an heart defects, or signs of cardiac tamponade.  (Echocardiogram)

(http://www.severinbrenny.com/echocardiogram.html)

And here we have an actual echo of a heart with a pericardial effusion (cardiac tamponade).  We can clearly see the chambers of the heart, but then we notice a large sac around the heart.  This is very abnormal.

(http://www.stritch.luc.edu/lumen/MedEd/Radio/curriculum/Medicine/Pericardial_effusion2.htm)

Echocardiogram. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2015, from http://www.severinbrenny.com/echocardiogram.html

Spodick, D. (2003). Current concepts: acute cardiac tamponade. New England Journal Of Medicine, 349(7), 684-690.