Cardiac Tamponade Causes & Risks

Causes

Cardiac tamponade can be caused by a variety of factors and conditions, including:

Pericarditis (an inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart) caused by bacterial or viral infections
Bleeding into the pericardium, caused by injury
Ruptured heart muscle
Cancer in or near the heart

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing this condition. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

Heart surgery
Tumors in the heart
Heart attack
Injury to the heart
End-stage lung cancer
Kidney failure
Radiation therapy to the chest
Hypothyroidism
Systemic lupus erythematosus

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.