ABSTRACT
Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early. Normally there is small amount of fluid (15-50 ml) between visceral and parietal pericardium. If the volume of fluid increases it may be significant enough to cause a rise in pressure within the pericardial cavity and impair ventricular filling and consequently cause cardiac tamponade.The rate at which the fluid develops is important. If it is a slow process up to 1-2 L may be present by the time the patients become symptomatic but if it occurs quickly or the pericardium is stiff then it may compromise the circulation even with smaller volumes.
