noun

• 1

  (also cardiac tamponade)

  Compression of the heart by an accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac.

  ‘A doctor may confirm a diagnosis of cardiac tamponade by an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram).’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Thirteen of the patients were initially asymptomatic, seven presented with atypical chest pain and seven were admitted to the hospital with overt cardiac tamponade.’
  • ‘Patients with chronic, large pericardial effusion may be asymptomatic but can develop cardiac tamponade precipitously.’
  • ‘A moderate anterior pericardial effusion was present, and right ventricular collapse was observed, suggesting pericardial tamponade.’
  • ‘Pericardial involvement causing tamponade has only been reported in two previous patients.’

• 2The surgical use of a plug of absorbent material.

  ‘Presence of retinal detachment makes the operative procedure more complex; these patients require some kind of tamponade at the end of surgery - either gas or silicone oil; and overall visual improvement is very guarded.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Acute management consists of resuscitation and control of bleeding by sclerotherapy or balloon tamponade’
  • ‘At the time of transfer, the patient was again febrile with a new posterior nares hemorrhage that required packing and tamponade.’
  • ‘The only severe complication noted in these 151 episodes of bleeding treated by tamponade was pulmonary aspiration, which was detected in 10% of cases.’