Free BCEN Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) Practice Question

The patient's presentation, including signs of hypovolemic shock, distended neck veins, and pulsus paradoxus, is consistent with cardiac tamponade. In traumatic settings, a great vessel injury can result in pericardial effusion leading to tamponade. Hypovolemic shock is due to decreased cardiac output, distended neck veins are from increased venous pressure, and pulsus paradoxus is a hallmark of cardiac tamponade. Other options such as tension pneumothorax or aortic dissection may have overlapping features but typically present differently in terms of symptoms and physical findings.