Question

While you are obtaining your​ patient's blood​ pressure, you notice that the needle drops more than 10​ mm/Hg each time the patient inhales. This is​ called:

A. pulsus paradoxus.
B. pulsus alternans.
C. pressus invertus.
D. hypoxia-induced tachycardia.

Answer 1

Pulsus paradoxus is the correct answer, which refers to a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure during inhalation. This is a phenomenon that can be indicated by a drop of more than 10 mm Hg in blood pressure, typically measured using a mercury manometer or blood pressure cuff.

Step-by-step explanation:

When obtaining a patient's blood pressure and noticing that the needle drops more than 10 mm Hg each time the patient inhales, the condition being described is known as pulsus paradoxus. Pulsus paradoxus is a significant (>10 mm Hg) decrease in the systolic blood pressure during inspiration. It is not characterized by pulsus alternans, which is a regular rhythm combined with alternating force of arterial pulse, nor by pressus invertus or hypoxia-induced tachycardia, the latter being an increase in heart rate due to low oxygen levels.

Typically, a mercury manometer or a blood pressure cuff is used to measure the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic pressure is measured when blood flow first begins as cuff pressure is lowered, and diastolic pressure is when blood flows without interruption. The phenomenon of pulsus paradoxus may be observed in conditions such as cardiac tamponade, asthma, or other instances of increased intrathoracic pressure.