What condition involves acute compression of the heart due to fluid accumulation?

The condition characterized by acute compression of the heart due to fluid accumulation is known as cardiac tamponade. This occurs when there is an excess of fluid in the pericardial space, the area surrounding the heart. The fluid exerts pressure on the heart, limiting its ability to fill properly with blood during diastole. As a result, this can lead to decreased cardiac output and may manifest with symptoms such as hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and distended neck veins—a classic triad often referred to as Beck's triad.

In contrast, myocardial infarction involves the death of heart tissue due to a lack of blood flow, primarily from a blocked artery, rather than fluid accumulation. A cerebrovascular accident (CVA) pertains to disruptions in blood flow to the brain, affecting cognitive functions rather than heart mechanics. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) involves clot formation in deep veins, usually in the legs, and does not directly affect the heart by fluid compression. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why cardiac tamponade is the condition specifically associated with acute heart compression due to fluid build-up.