Cardiac failure

Friday, January 27, 2012

A great reduction in the cardiac output may also occur with a large myocardial infarction, an attack of paroxysmal tachycardia, fibrillation or flutter, a large pulmonary embolism or a rapidly developing pericardial effusion. The clinical picture of acute cardiac failure is very similar to that which occurs in peripheral circulatory failure, i.e. it is that of shock. Syncope or sudden death may occur. It must be emphasized that a similar clinical picture to that of acute peripheral failure may be seen in circulatory failure of central origin, e.g. in cardiac infarction, massive pulmonary embolism or acute pericardial effusion.