Question

An individual’s pulse may be found in multiple locations throughout the body. When might it be necessary to check the pulse of an individual in the dorsalis pedis artery (the artery on the dorsal foot) instead of the carotid artery?

Answer 1

The pulse of a person can be found at multiple points on the human body. There are times when it is necessary to check the pulse in the dorsalis pedis artery, which is the artery found on the dorsal foot, instead of checking pulse the carotid artery. One of the reasons is to make sure that the person is getting proper blood flow into their extremities like the foot. Understanding the pattern of pulse difference between these two arteries during inhalation anesthesia is helpful for heamodynamic management and therapeutic decisions.