Beck's triad
System: Heart & Circulation Signs · All heart & circulation signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
The combination of low blood pressure, distended neck veins and muffled, distant heart sounds.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with cardiac tamponade — fluid compressing the heart inside its sac.
◈ Behind the name
Claude S. Beck (1894–1971), American cardiothoracic surgeon.
Related signs — Heart & Circulation Signs
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Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.