A 65-year-old female fell and hit her chest against a table. She now presents with severe chest pain and shortness of breath. On examination, her blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, heart rate is 110 bpm, and there are distant heart sounds on auscultation. What are the potential diagnoses, and what are the next steps?
This patient's presentation of chest trauma followed by hypotension, tachycardia, and distant heart sounds is suggestive of cardiac tamponade, a condition where fluid accumulates in the pericardial sac, impeding heart function. This is a medical emergency. Immediate steps should include stabilizing the patient's blood pressure and preparing for pericardiocentesis. An echocardiogram should be performed as soon as possible to confirm the diagnosis.