Pulsus paradoxus is defined as what finding?

Pulsus paradoxus is defined as what finding?

• A. Decrease of systolic pressure by 10 mmHg during inspiration
• B. Increase of systolic pressure by 10 mmHg during inspiration
• C. No change in blood pressure with breathing
• D. Decrease of diastolic pressure by 10 mmHg during inspiration

Answer: (A)

Pulsus paradoxus is an exaggerated drop in systolic blood pressure during inspiration. During normal inspiration, intrathoracic pressure becomes more negative and venous return to the right heart increases, but in conditions like cardiac tamponade the increased right-sided filling shifts the interventricular septum and reduces left ventricular stroke volume. This causes the systolic pressure to fall by more than about 10 mmHg with inspiration. It’s not a change in diastolic pressure, and it’s not an increase in systolic pressure or no change—those would not describe pulsus paradoxus.

Pulsus paradoxus is an exaggerated drop in systolic blood pressure during inspiration. During normal inspiration, intrathoracic pressure becomes more negative and venous return to the right heart increases, but in conditions like cardiac tamponade the increased right-sided filling shifts the interventricular septum and reduces left ventricular stroke volume. This causes the systolic pressure to fall by more than about 10 mmHg with inspiration. It’s not a change in diastolic pressure, and it’s not an increase in systolic pressure or no change—those would not describe pulsus paradoxus.