×
MedSchool: Ace Your OSCEsThe Medical Company
 
 
 
 
 
GET - On the App Store
View
Cardio Exam
 
 

Pulsus Paradoxus

July 1st, 2020
 
 
 
Bookmark

Overview

The systolic blood pressure normally drops slightly during inspiration, though an exaggerated fall in SBP with inspiration is abnormal. While classically a sign of tamponade, pulsus paradoxus may also occur in several other cardiorespiratory conditions.
  • How to Elicit

  • Inflate the sphygmomanometer above systolic pressure and slowly reduce the cuff until the 1st Korotkoff sound can be heard only during expiration. Slowly reduce the cuff until the 1st Korotkoff sound can be heard during both inspiration and expiration.
  • Interpretation

  • Pulsus paradoxus is present if the systolic blood pressure drops 10mmHg or more during inspiration.
  • Causes of Pulsus Paradoxus

  • Cardiac - tamponade, constrictive pericarditis, severe CCF, myocardial pathology, mitral / tricuspid stenosis
  • Respiratory - acute asthma, pulmonary embolism, emphysema
  • Hypovolaemic shock
  • Extreme obesity
  • Ascites
Next Page
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Want more info like this?
  • Your electronic clinical medicine handbook
  • Guides to help pass your exams
  • Tools every medical student needs
  • Quick diagrams to have the answers, fast
  • Quizzes to test your knowledge
Sign Up Now
   
 
 

Snapshot: Initialising...