Cardiac Tamponade vs Constrictive Perica

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Cardiac Tamponade vs Constrictive Perica

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doyoudig
Forum Guru

Topics: 144
Posts: 613

10/02/07 - 12:52 PM

Both are essentially the same thing in my mind. There is something constricting the heart and therefore it's not able to distend as much as it would = less blood returning to the heart and low cardiac output.

Can someone PLEASE explain to me why the Left ventricular end diastolic pressure is LOW in tamponade and HIGH in constrictive pericarditis?

DrVirgo
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10/03/07 - 06:24 AM

This is how I understand it:

Cardiac Tamponade can result from pericardial effusion.
There is SOB, pulsus paradoxus, but CLEAR LUNGS, hypotension, tachycardia,
And EQUAL L & R Atrial pressures.

Constrictive Pericarditis results from reduced cardiac filling because of thickening and fibrosis from inflamation.
There is decreased CO and INCREASED FILLING PRSSURE. Here there is right sided failure (edema, ascites, hepatomegaly, etc.)

Both have JVD and Kussmaul's Sign (Neck veins distend on inspiration)

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drgeorgie
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10/03/07 - 06:43 AM

tamponade is sudden while constrictive pericarditis is progressive?

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