Radio-Radial Delay
March 28th, 2020
Overview
If present, a delay between bilateral radial pulses suggests narrowing of the aorta proximal to the left subclavian artery - classically in the context of coarctation of the aorta.
How to Elicit
- Palpate bilateral radial pulses at the same time.
If the left radial pulse is slightly later than the right, then radio-radial delay is present.
Causes of Radio-Radial Delay
- Aortic coarctation
- Subclavian stenosis
- Takayasu arteritis
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