Beck's triad for tamponade includes hypotension, muffled heart tones, and JVD. Which is NOT part?

Beck's triad for tamponade includes hypotension, muffled heart tones, and JVD. Which is NOT part?

• A. Hypotension
• B. Muffled heart tones
• C. JVD
• D. Tachycardia

Answer: (D)

Tamponade from a pericardial effusion produces a characteristic set of findings because the heart cannot fill properly during diastole. The reduced ventricular filling leads to decreased stroke volume and low blood pressure. The impaired filling also causes back-up of pressure into the venous system, showing up as jugular venous distention. The fluid around the heart dampens the sounds you can hear over the chest, giving muffled heart tones. Tachycardia can occur as the body's attempt to maintain cardiac output in the face of reduced stroke volume, but it is not a defining feature of Beck’s triad. So tachycardia is not part of the triad; the triad consists of hypotension, muffled heart tones, and jugular venous distention.

Tamponade from a pericardial effusion produces a characteristic set of findings because the heart cannot fill properly during diastole. The reduced ventricular filling leads to decreased stroke volume and low blood pressure. The impaired filling also causes back-up of pressure into the venous system, showing up as jugular venous distention. The fluid around the heart dampens the sounds you can hear over the chest, giving muffled heart tones. Tachycardia can occur as the body's attempt to maintain cardiac output in the face of reduced stroke volume, but it is not a defining feature of Beck’s triad. So tachycardia is not part of the triad; the triad consists of hypotension, muffled heart tones, and jugular venous distention.