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What is Dicrotic pulse

It is double peaked pulse with one peak in systole and one peak in diastole due to very low stroke volume with decreased peripheral vascular resistance. 
  • This is also a low volume pulse.
  • Double peak is due to the palpability of dictrotic wave.
  • Dicrotic pulse is typically found due to hypotonia of the vessel wall in toxic fever will lead to the appearance of dicrotic wave.
Causes of dicrotic pulse are
1.Second week of typhoid fever (possibly due to the presence of circulating vasculotoxins).
2.Endotoxic shock.
3.Hypovolaemic shock.
4.Left ventricular failure
5.Dilated cardiomyopathy
6.Cardiac tamponade.