Fluid compressing the heart describes which condition?

• A. Pink Frothy Sputum
• B. Cardiac Tamponade
• C. Peripheral Edema
• D. Pulmonary Edema

Answer: (B)

Fluid compressing the heart is most consistent with cardiac tamponade. When fluid accumulates in the pericardial sac, intrapericardial pressure rises and the ventricles can’t fill properly during diastole. That reduces end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, and ultimately cardiac output, leading to hypotension. Clinically you often see signs of venous congestion such as neck vein distension, and heart sounds may be muffled because the fluid dampens the acoustic window; a pulsus paradoxus may also be present.

Other signs like pink-tinged, frothy sputum point to pulmonary edema from fluid in the lungs, not external cardiac compression. Peripheral edema reflects chronic fluid overload rather than an acute compression issue. Pulmonary edema itself describes fluid in the lungs, not the heart being physically compressed by surrounding fluid.