Summary

• Medical emergency; can be rapidly fatal if not promptly drained through needle pericardiocentesis or surgical drainage of the pericardium.
• Clinical signs include tachycardia, hypotension, distant heart sounds, elevated jugular venous pressure, and a pulsus paradoxus >10 mmHg.
• Echocardiography is essential for evaluation.
• May be caused by any disorder that results in pericardial effusion.
• Pericardiocentesis may be complicated by puncture or laceration of the coronary, internal mammary, or pericardial blood vessels.