What is pulse?
It is the expansion and elongation of arterial wall imparted by the column of blood and is passively produced by the pressure changes during the ventricular systole and diastole.Radial artery pulse is the one commonly examined this is the most accessible peripheral artery.
What are the components of normal arterial pulse?
Percussion wave (P wave ) – It is produced by the ejected amount of blood into the arterial system
Tidal wave (T)- T wave is generated along the arterial wall
Dicrotic wave - formed by the recoil of the vessel
What are the points to note in examination of pulse?
Pulse should always be described under these eiqht points.
- Rate.
- Rhythm.
- Volume.
- Condition ?f the vessel wall.
- Comparison between two radial pulses.
- Radio-femoral delay.
- Any special character.
- Palpation of other peripheral arteries.
The radial pulse at the wrist is generally examined using the pulp of three fingers (index, middle and ring linger). The patient’s forearm is held in semipronated position and the wrist is slightly flexed.
Radial artery is used to palpate the rate and rhythm.
Carotid artery is used to note the volume and character of the pulse(since it is the’nearest pulse to the aorta)
How to count the Pulse rate?
You should always count the beats for not less than half a minute but in a patient with arrhythmia, one must count the beats for at least one minute.
You can record pulse in the following manner
- Normal +
- Reduced ±
- Absent
- Aneurysmal ++