cardiac tamponade

cardiac tamponade, a fatal condition, in which pericardial fluid or blood accumulates under high pressure, compresses the cardiac chambers, and severely limits filling of the heart. As a result, ventricular filling is reduced. Ventricular stroke volume and cardiac output also decline, potentially leading to pulmonary edema, hypotensive shock and death.
The picture shows the sac open and the heart covered with a huge blood clot.
This can happen secondary to a blunt or penetrating chest trauma, after rupture of the LV wall following MI, or as a complication of a dissecting aortic aneurysm.
Echocardiography diagnoses a tamponade fairly quick and surgical removal of the pericardial fluid is the only intervention that reverses the life-threatening condition.
This can go the open way or by performing pericardiocentesis in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.