Beck's triad

A collection of three medical signs associated with acute cardiac tamponade, a medical emergency that occurs when there is excessive fluid accumulation (usually blood) in the pericardial sac around the heart, impairing the heart's ability to fill and empty. The 3 signs are 1) hypotension, 2) distended neck veins, and 3) distant, muffled heart sounds. The term "Beck's Triad" is not included in TCAR or PCAR courses because most tamponade patients will not exhibit all 3 classic findings, or will do so only briefly prior to circulatory arrest. The EAST Guidelines suggest eliminating the term.