What is the urgent intervention for cardiac tamponade in trauma?

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Multiple Choice

What is the urgent intervention for cardiac tamponade in trauma?

When cardiac tamponade follows trauma, the heart can’t fill properly because blood in the pericardial sac compresses it, causing obstructive shock. The urgent goal is to decompress that space to restore venous return and cardiac output. Draining the pericardial sac accomplishes this fastest: pericardiocentesis to remove the blood, or surgical drainage such as a pericardial window or emergency thoracotomy if necessary. This directly relieves the pressure on the heart and stabilizes circulation. Chest tube addresses fluid or air in the pleural space, not the pericardial space, so it won’t resolve tamponade. Observation won’t treat the life-threatening pressure issue, and peritoneal lavage targets intra-abdominal bleeding, not the heart.

When cardiac tamponade follows trauma, the heart can’t fill properly because blood in the pericardial sac compresses it, causing obstructive shock. The urgent goal is to decompress that space to restore venous return and cardiac output. Draining the pericardial sac accomplishes this fastest: pericardiocentesis to remove the blood, or surgical drainage such as a pericardial window or emergency thoracotomy if necessary. This directly relieves the pressure on the heart and stabilizes circulation.

Chest tube addresses fluid or air in the pleural space, not the pericardial space, so it won’t resolve tamponade. Observation won’t treat the life-threatening pressure issue, and peritoneal lavage targets intra-abdominal bleeding, not the heart.

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