Which procedure directly relieves cardiac tamponade by removing pericardial fluid?

Which procedure directly relieves cardiac tamponade by removing pericardial fluid?

• A. Pericardiocentesis
• B. Coronary artery bypass graft
• C. Pacemaker insertion
• D. Ventricular assist device

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is that tamponade is relieved by removing the fluid compressing the heart. Pericardiocentesis directly accomplishes this by inserting a needle or small catheter into the pericardial space to drain the excess fluid. Once the pericardial pressure drops, the heart can fill adequately during diastole, restoring stroke volume and cardiac output quickly. Other procedures address different problems: bypass grafting treats coronary artery disease, pacemaker placement corrects rhythm issues, and a ventricular assist device supports circulation in heart failure. They do not remove the pericardial fluid responsible for tamponade, so they don’t provide the immediate relief that drainage does.

The essential idea is that tamponade is relieved by removing the fluid compressing the heart. Pericardiocentesis directly accomplishes this by inserting a needle or small catheter into the pericardial space to drain the excess fluid. Once the pericardial pressure drops, the heart can fill adequately during diastole, restoring stroke volume and cardiac output quickly.

Other procedures address different problems: bypass grafting treats coronary artery disease, pacemaker placement corrects rhythm issues, and a ventricular assist device supports circulation in heart failure. They do not remove the pericardial fluid responsible for tamponade, so they don’t provide the immediate relief that drainage does.