Understanding Right Atrial Collapse: Timing Is Everything

Pericardial effusion is relatively common in high-risk patients in acute care settings, and pericardial tamponade should be a consideration in these patients.1,2 Acute pericardial tamponade typically presents as cardiogenic shock, whereas hypotension is uncommon in subacute (medical) tamponade caused by pericardial fluid accumulation within days to weeks.3 Physical examination findings are notoriously nonspecific in diagnosing subacute pericardial tamponade; therefore, bedside ultrasonography can serve as an invaluable diagnostic tool.

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