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Cardiac tamponade is a condition caused by too much fluid in the
space between the heart and the sac that surrounds it, called the pericardium.
This fluid collection can put weight and pressure on the heart, which means
that it cannot expand properly and so it does not fill with normal amounts of
Cardiac tamponade is an emergency condition. The inability of the
heart to pump enough blood may eventually lead to heart failure.
Current as of:
February 20, 2015
Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology & Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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