Which finding is a sign of cardiac tamponade?

Which finding is a sign of cardiac tamponade?

• A. Muffled heart sounds
• B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
• C. Crackles in lungs
• D. Wheezing

Answer: (A)

In cardiac tamponade, fluid or blood accumulates in the pericardial space and compresses the heart, especially during filling, which reduces cardiac output. This compression dampens the transmission of sound to the chest wall, making heart sounds appear muffled on auscultation. In trauma, muffled heart sounds together with signs like hypotension or JVD strongly suggest tamponade. The other findings don’t fit this scenario: hyperactive bowel sounds point to GI activity, crackles in the lungs suggest pulmonary edema or fluid in the airspaces, and wheezing indicates airway constriction or reactive airway disease. None of those are specific signs of pericardial tamponade.

In cardiac tamponade, fluid or blood accumulates in the pericardial space and compresses the heart, especially during filling, which reduces cardiac output. This compression dampens the transmission of sound to the chest wall, making heart sounds appear muffled on auscultation. In trauma, muffled heart sounds together with signs like hypotension or JVD strongly suggest tamponade.

The other findings don’t fit this scenario: hyperactive bowel sounds point to GI activity, crackles in the lungs suggest pulmonary edema or fluid in the airspaces, and wheezing indicates airway constriction or reactive airway disease. None of those are specific signs of pericardial tamponade.