AEMCA Practice Exam

Which of the following components make up Beck's triad?

1. Narrowing pulse pressure, jaundice, heart murmur

2. Narrowing pulse pressure, JVD, heart murmur

3. Widening pulse pressure, JVD, normal heart sounds

4. Narrow pulse, blood pressure drop, loud heart sounds

The correct answer is: Narrowing pulse pressure, JVD, heart murmur

Beck's triad is a classical set of clinical signs associated with cardiac tamponade, a condition where fluid accumulates in the pericardial space, leading to impaired filling of the heart. The components of Beck's triad include hypotension (often represented by narrowing pulse pressure), jugular venous distention (JVD), and muffled heart sounds. The significance of these components can be understood as follows: - **Narrowing pulse pressure** reflects a significant decrease in cardiac output and indicates an unstable hemodynamic state. This can occur because the heart is unable to fill adequately due to external pressure from the accumulated fluid. - **Jugular venous distention (JVD)** indicates increased central venous pressure. In cardiac tamponade, the elevated pressure in the heart chambers results in elevated pressure in the veins, which is visibly reflected by the engorgement of the jugular veins. - **Muffled heart sounds** occur due to the presence of fluid in the pericardial space, which can dampen the sound of the heart beating when checked with a stethoscope. This is a key indicator in diagnosing cardiac tamponade. Thus, the answer reflects an accurate understanding of the important signs used to identify