SAQ 376 – Cardiology – pericardial tamponade and pericardiocentesis

You are the ED consultant in a small rural department 100 km by road from cardiology or surgical support. A 72-year-old woman presents with increasing shortness of breath and no known cardiac or respiratory history. She has raised JVP, muffled heart sounds, no murmurs, and an otherwise unremarkable respiratory examination except for tachypnoea.

The bedside echocardiography image is shown below.

Observation	Value
Temperature	36.2 C
Heart rate	110/min regular
Blood pressure	89/77 mmHg
Respiratory rate	24/min
Oxygen saturation	95% on room air

Name this cardiac ultrasound window/view.

(Marked out of 1.0)

/ 1

List three (3) bedside echo findings suggestive of pericardial tamponade.

(Marked out of 3.0)

/ 3

List five (5) causes of pericardial effusion from different cause categories.

(Marked out of 5.0)

/ 5

Complete the pericardiocentesis technique table.

(Marked out of 4.0)
</p> <table class="saq-prop-table"> <thead> <tr> <th>Technique element</th> <th>Answer</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Patient position</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Needle gauge</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Needle insertion point</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Direction of advancement</td> <td></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>

/ 4

Total Score: 0 / 13

Percentage: 0%