Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
11:27
A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn
Published on: April 7, 2023
7.8K
Cardiac tamponade in a neonate: a dreadful condition--need for functional echo
Venkatesh Harohalli Aswathanarayana Iyer1, Deepa Mohan Sharma1, Siddhu Charki1
1Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
BMJ Case Reports
|December 24, 2014
Summary
Cardiac tamponade is a critical condition. Early detection of a swinging heart rate in a preterm infant signaled a large pericardial effusion, requiring prompt echocardiography-guided intervention.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Cardiac tamponade, a medical emergency, presents with fluid accumulation around the heart.
- Early identification of pericardial effusion is crucial for timely intervention.
- Swinging heart rate is a key clinical sign of significant pericardial effusion.
Observation:
- A preterm infant, one of twins, experienced sudden deterioration.
- Clinical signs included swinging heart rate, blood pressure fluctuations, and desaturation.
- Bedside echocardiography confirmed cardiac tamponade.
Findings:
- The echocardiogram revealed fluid in the pericardial space compressing the heart.
- An echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis was performed immediately.
- Aspiration of pericardial fluid relieved the tamponade.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of recognizing swinging heart rate in neonates.
- Echocardiography is vital for diagnosing cardiac tamponade in preterm infants.
- Prompt, image-guided pericardiocentesis can be life-saving in neonatal cardiac emergencies.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management
442
Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy may undergo a septal myectomy (Morrow procedure). This procedure involves excising a portion of the hypertrophied septum below the aortic valve using a heart-lung machine to improve blood flow through the LVOT. Effective preoperative and postoperative nursing management ensures successful patient outcomes, minimizes complications, and...
442
01:26Pneumothorax-I
2.1K
A pneumothorax is a condition where air builds up in the space between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. This condition arises when air enters the space between the parietal and visceral pleura, disrupting the negative pressure essential for lung inflation. This can lead to a partial or complete collapse of the lung.
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
2.1K
01:25Pericarditis IV: Nursing Management
599
Pericarditis, an inflammation of the pericardium, necessitates diligent nursing management to ensure effective patient care and recovery. The initial step in managing pericarditis is a comprehensive patient medical assessment.The patient reports chest pain aggravated by breathing, coughing, and swallowing, which worsens when lying supine. The pain often improves when sitting up and leaning forward. Additional symptoms may include fever, malaise, and, in severe cases, signs of heart failure.
599
01:30Introduction Cardiac Emergencies
558
Cardiac emergencies are critical situations involving the heart that require immediate medical intervention to prevent severe complications or death. These emergencies often arise from underlying heart conditions that impair the heart's ability to function correctly.Types of Cardiac EmergenciesThe most common types of cardiac emergencies include Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac arrest, and heart failure.Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)...
558
01:26Imbalances in Cardiac Output
3.5K
The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send...
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send...
3.5K