Four days after being hospitalized for a myocardial infarction, a 75 year old man suddenly has altered mental status. His blood pressure falls from 115/75 to 80/40. Exam is notable for JVD, pulsus paradoxus, and distant heart sounds. What is the cause of this patient's condition?
A. Acute pulmonary edema causing right heart failure
B. Arrhythmias caused by damage to conduction pathways
C. Compression of heart chambers by blood in the pericardial space
D. Pericardial inflammation
E. Rupture of a papillary muscle
A. Acute pulmonary edema causing right heart failure
B. Arrhythmias caused by damage to conduction pathways
C. Compression of heart chambers by blood in the pericardial space
D. Pericardial inflammation
E. Rupture of a papillary muscle