A 25-year-old male is brought to the resuscitation room after a stab wound to the left chest. Blood pressure is 80/50 mmHg, heart rate is 130 bpm, neck veins are distended, and heart sounds are distant and muffled. What is this clinical triad and underlying condition?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Beck's triad indicating acute cardiac tamponade
- Step 1: Beck's triad consists of hypotension, jugular venous distention, and muffled heart sounds.
- Step 2: It signifies acute pericardial tamponade where blood accumulation in the rigid pericardial sac impairs ventricular diastolic filling.
Answer
Beck's triad indicating acute cardiac tamponade.
Why not the others: 'Charcot's triad indicating acute cholangitis' consists of fever, jaundice, and RUQ pain; 'Cushing's triad indicating increased intracranial pressure' consists of hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations; 'Virchow's triad indicating deep vein thrombosis' describes stasis, endothelial injury, and hypercoagulability.
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