Cardiac tamponade: a review of diagnosis and anaesthetic and surgical management illustrated by three case reports.

Cardiac tamponade is an uncommon problem in a district general hospital. Three patients were admitted to the intensive therapy unit at Northampton General Hospital with tamponade in a 7-week period, each with a different underlying aetiology. Their case histories are presented and the management in the light of these described. The aetiology, physiology, clinical signs and investigations leading to the diagnosis are considered. In the discussion the opportunity is taken to review the recent literature on the subject.