Beck’s triad – what is it? Beck’s triad symptoms and causes [EXPLAINED]

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Beck’s triad is a set of three characteristic symptoms that may indicate cardiac tamponade, i.e. a condition that directly threatens the health and life of the patient. For this reason, it is worth knowing the causes and symptoms of cardiac tamponade in order to protect yourself against undesirable consequences. We check the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac tamponade.

Beck’s triad – characteristic symptoms

Beck’s triad is a term for three characteristic clinical symptoms that are directly related to cardiac tamponade. It is named after the physician Claude Schaffer Beck, who was the first to perform defibrillation. He used innovative techniques to treat patients with heart disease, distinguishing three basic symptoms, which include:

1. drop in blood pressure (hypotension);
2. suppression of heart tones;
3. excessive widening of the jugular veins.

The symptoms distinguished by Beck do not have to appear together. Sometimes only one or two of them testify to the danger of cardiac tamponade.

Beck’s triad – what is a cardiac tamponade?

Cardiac tamponade occurs when the pericardial sac that protects the heart becomes filled with blood. This condition causes the heart cavities cannot fill with blood, which directly leads to the symptoms noted by Beck. The most common noticeable is a drop in blood pressure, which is a characteristic feature of people suffering from arterial hypertension. Here, however, the clinical symptom is referred to as low systolic blood pressure.

Beck’s triad – causes of cardiac tamponade

Typically, cardiac tamponade and the accompanying Beck triad are directly related to the mechanical injury to the mid-heart that occurs in a car accident. Other reasons include:

• neoplastic disease (breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer);

• aortic aneurysm rupture;

• rupture of the aortic wall due to infarction;

• pericarditis;

• rheumatological disease.

It is also worth mentioning the symptoms of the appearance of Beck’s triad, which should alarm the patient:

1. cough;
2. shortness of breath;
3. pain in the chest;
4. frequent fatigue;
5. increased heart rate.

Beck’s triad – diagnosis of cardiac tamponade

The main tests used in the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade include:

1. electrocardiography (ECG);
2. echocardiography;
3. x-ray examination.

Thanks to these studies, it is possible to determine whether one of the characteristic symptoms of Beck’s triad has appeared. In a situation where the doctor has not noticed any of the conditions, but at the same time the fluid in the pericardium has accumulated, it is important to perform the procedure immediately.

Beck’s triad – treatment of cardiac tamponade

Cardiac tamponade and Beck’s triad is treated by removing excess fluid that has accumulated in the pericardium. The procedure of puncture and decompression of the pericardial sac is referred to as pericardiocentesis. After the fluid is drained, it is very important to perform echocardiography to monitor the work of the heart.

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