Читать книгу Predicting Heart Failure - Группа авторов - Страница 69

The carotid pulse is commonly a pressure signal sensed over the carotid artery when it passes near the neck. This pulse signifies the variations in the arterial blood pressure and volume with each heartbeat. It appears as a smooth rapid upstroke and a gradual downstroke with a brief interruption at the pulse peak. The abnormalities of the carotid pulse can be identified as an alteration in either pulse peak amplitude or a distortion of the upstroke or downstroke or both. These variations in carotid pulse contour reflect underlying cardiac abnormalities, such as aortic stenosis. However, it is generally confirmed only after detecting abnormal cardiac impulse or murmur.

Precordial impulses generally originate from the heart or great vessels visible or palpable on the anterior chest wall. All the precordial impulses including apex impulse, parasternal impulse, and pulmonary artery pulsation are observed and consideration is taken into account of the relevant location, size, and character, which including the duration, force, and contour.