What’s the difference between pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade?

What’s the difference between pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade?

Pericardial effusion is the technical term for when the pericardium is filling up with fluid. Cardiac tamponade is when pressure from surrounding fluid keeps your heart from beating. Effusions can consist of blood, discharge and other blood components products.

Cardiac tamponade may not happen or will take longer to happen when the pericardium fills up with fluid slowly. This is because it has time to stretch and make more room for fluid, and the process may not cause symptoms. However, cardiac tamponade can still happen even when it takes days, weeks or months for enough fluid to accumulate.