In the context of cardiac tamponade, an echocardiogram is often used to confirm the diagnosis and guide pericardiocentesis. However, if a patient exhibits clear clinical signs of cardiac tamponade (e.g., Beck’s triad: hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and elevated jugular venous pressure) and is hemodynamically unstable, immediate pericardiocentesis should be performed without waiting for an echocardiogram.