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Traumatic cardiac tamponade — ABEM Board MCQ

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HardCardiovascular emergenciesTraumatic cardiac tamponadeABEM Board

A 45-year-old man arrives as triage level 1 after a stab wound near the left sternal border. He is anxious with BP 78/48 mm Hg, HR 138/min, distended neck veins, muffled heart sounds, and a narrowed pulse pressure. Which of the following is the most important immediate intervention?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Emergency thoracotomy or pericardial decompression according to local trauma capability

Penetrating trauma with obstructive shock and classic tamponade findings requires immediate decompression or resuscitative thoracotomy depending on resources and arrest status.

Reference: ATLS principles; ABEM EM Model