Beck's triad components for cardiac tamponade commonly include hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and which finding?

Beck's triad components for cardiac tamponade commonly include hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and which finding?

• A. Jugular venous distension
• B. Hypotension
• C. Muffled heart sounds
• D. Hypoxia

Answer: (A)

Tamponade increases intrapericardial pressure, which limits filling of all heart chambers. That leads to decreased stroke volume and hypotension, while the elevated pericardial pressure is transmitted to the heart and muffles sounds. At the same time, impaired venous return backs up into the venous system, raising right atrial and neck venous pressures, producing visible jugular venous distension. So the finding that completes Beck’s triad is jugular venous distension. Hypoxia isn’t a component of this triad.

Tamponade increases intrapericardial pressure, which limits filling of all heart chambers. That leads to decreased stroke volume and hypotension, while the elevated pericardial pressure is transmitted to the heart and muffles sounds. At the same time, impaired venous return backs up into the venous system, raising right atrial and neck venous pressures, producing visible jugular venous distension. So the finding that completes Beck’s triad is jugular venous distension. Hypoxia isn’t a component of this triad.