Cardiac tamponade without demonstrable pulsus paradoxus in haemodialysis patients

Cardiac tamponade is the most sinister complication of pericarditis and occurs in up to 20% of cases of dialysis pericarditis. A unique aspect of the haemodynamics of tamponade and chronic renal disease is the occasional absence of pulsus paradoxus, a sign thought to be universally present with tamponade.