Recognizing cardiac tamponade

Cardiac tamponade is a commonly misdiagnosed, life-threatening condition that causes impaired ventricular filling as a result of increased pericardial pressure. Nurses are in an ideal position to recognize the early, often subtle signs of Decreased Cardiac Output and Altered Tissue Perfusion resulting from cardiac tamponade. Care plans for these and other nursing diagnoses of Alteration in Comfort and Anxiety are given in this article. Hemodynamic alterations, etiology, clinical presentation, and interventions are discussed.