A nurse is caring for a client who has developed cardiac tamponade. Which of the following symptoms should the nurse expect to observe?

Choice A rationale
Orthostatic hypotension, a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down, would not typically cause severe chest pain or result in elevated levels of cardiac troponins I and T6.
Choice B rationale
Raynaud’s disease, a condition that causes some areas of your body — such as your fingers and toes — to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures or stress, would not typically cause severe chest pain or result in elevated levels of cardiac troponins I and T6.
Choice C rationale
Angina, a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, could cause severe chest pain, but it would not typically result in elevated levels of cardiac troponins I and T6. Elevated troponin levels are more indicative of damage to the heart muscle, which is not characteristic of angina.
Choice D rationale
A myocardial infarction (MI), also known as a heart attack, could cause severe chest pain and would typically result in elevated levels of cardiac troponins I and T7. Troponins are proteins found in the heart muscle, and levels can rise in the blood when there is damage to the heart, such as during an MI.

Choice A rationale
Pericardiocentesis is a procedure that uses a needle to remove fluid from the pericardial sac. This procedure can be used to relieve pressure on the heart caused by a large pericardial effusion.
Choice B rationale
A pericardiectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part or all of the pericardium. It is typically used to treat constrictive pericarditis, not pericardial effusion.
Choice C rationale
Heart catheterization involves inserting a long, thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel and guiding it to the heart. It is typically used to diagnose and treat certain cardiovascular conditions, not pericardial effusion.
Choice D rationale
A thoracotomy is a surgical procedure to gain access to the chest. It is typically used for lung, esophagus, or other chest organ operations, not pericardial effusion.