Prise en charge de la tamponnade cardiaque

Cardiac tamponade is a rare complication of pericardial effusion. It depends less on the volume than on the speed of occurrence of pericardial effusion. Echocardiography is the cornerstone examination allowing assessing the volume of pericardial effusion, as well as its hemodynamic consequences and especially the left shift of the interventricular septum and ventricular collapse. Cardiac tamponade requires drainage of pericardial effusion. Anaesthetic induction is touchy and can be performed in spontaneous breathing patients, with sedative doses of agents known to be less cardiac depressive before pericardial drainage and then completed with restoration of normal haemodynamic condition.