A post-operative cardiac surgical patient developed sudden hypotension, raised central venous pressure, pulsus paradoxus at the 4th post operative hour. The most probable diagnosis is:
Excessive mediastinal bleeding
Ventricular dysfunction
Congestive cardiac failure
Cardiac tamponade
Answer is D (Cardiac tamponade) Features of rising pressure, falling aerial pressure and pulsus paradoxus following surgery on the hea leads us to the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade.