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Cardiac tamponade — RCPSC EM MCQ

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HardCardiovascular emergenciesCardiac tamponadeRCPSC EM

A 44-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer is CTAS 1 with syncope and severe dyspnoea. Blood pressure is 74/46 mmHg, heart rate 132/min, JVP is elevated, and POCUS shows a large pericardial effusion with right ventricular diastolic collapse. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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Correct answer: D — Cardiac tamponade

Hypotension, raised JVP, malignant pericardial effusion, and right ventricular diastolic collapse on POCUS indicate cardiac tamponade.

Reference: ACLS; Canadian POCUS emergency medicine curriculum