Watson's water hammer pulse: Difference between revisions
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{{SI}} | {{SI}} | ||
{{CMG}}; {{AOEIC}} {{CZ}} | {{CMG}}; {{AOEIC}} {{CZ}} | ||
{{SK}} Corrigan's pulse | |||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Watson's water hammer pulse is the medical [[Sign (medicine)|sign]] which describes a [[pulse]] that is bounding and forceful, as if it were the hitting of a [[water hammer]] that was causing the pulse. This is associated with increased [[stroke volume]] of the [[left ventricle]] and decrease in the [[peripheral resistance]] leading to the widened [[pulse pressure]] of [[aortic regurgitation]]. Also, the carotid pulsations seen in aortic regurgitation is known as '''Corrigan's pulse'''. | Watson's water hammer pulse is the medical [[Sign (medicine)|sign]] which describes a [[pulse]] that is bounding and forceful, as if it were the hitting of a [[water hammer]] that was causing the pulse. This is associated with increased [[stroke volume]] of the [[left ventricle]] and decrease in the [[peripheral resistance]] leading to the widened [[pulse pressure]] of [[aortic regurgitation]]. Also, the carotid pulsations seen in aortic regurgitation is known as '''Corrigan's pulse'''. | ||
==Causes== | ==Causes== | ||
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===Other causes:=== | ===Other causes:=== | ||
* Chronic alcoholism | * Chronic alcoholism | ||
==Physical Examination== | |||
To feel a water hammer pulse with the patient reclining, the examiner raises the patient's arm vertically upwards. The examiner grasps the muscular part of the patient's forearm. A waterhammer pulse is felt as a tapping impulse which is transmitted through the bulk of the muscles. This happens because the blood that is pumped to the arm during systole is emptied very quickly due to the gravity effect on the raised arm. This results in the artery emptying back into the heart during diastole, therefore causing a palpable pulse. | |||
This is commonly found when a patient has a leaking prosthetic aortic valve. | |||
==Videos== | ==Videos== | ||
Revision as of 16:23, 10 December 2014
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Synonyms and keywords: Corrigan's pulse
Overview
Watson's water hammer pulse is the medical sign which describes a pulse that is bounding and forceful, as if it were the hitting of a water hammer that was causing the pulse. This is associated with increased stroke volume of the left ventricle and decrease in the peripheral resistance leading to the widened pulse pressure of aortic regurgitation. Also, the carotid pulsations seen in aortic regurgitation is known as Corrigan's pulse.
Causes
Physiological:
Cardiac lesions:
- Aortic regurgitation
- Patent ductus arteriosus
- Systolic hypertension
- Bradycardia
- Aortopulmonary window
- Rupture of the sinus of valsalva into heart chambers
Syndromes or High output states:
- Anemia
- Cor pulmonale
- Cirrhosis of liver
- Beriberi
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Arteriovenous fistula
- Paget's disease
Other causes:
- Chronic alcoholism
Physical Examination
To feel a water hammer pulse with the patient reclining, the examiner raises the patient's arm vertically upwards. The examiner grasps the muscular part of the patient's forearm. A waterhammer pulse is felt as a tapping impulse which is transmitted through the bulk of the muscles. This happens because the blood that is pumped to the arm during systole is emptied very quickly due to the gravity effect on the raised arm. This results in the artery emptying back into the heart during diastole, therefore causing a palpable pulse.
This is commonly found when a patient has a leaking prosthetic aortic valve.
Videos
Video demonstrating Corrigan's sign (rapid upstroke and collapse of the carotid artery pulse) {{#ev:youtube|C6mTmpP9Lvw}}
Related Chapters
Template:Skin and subcutaneous tissue symptoms and signs Template:Nervous and musculoskeletal system symptoms and signs Template:Urinary system symptoms and signs Template:Cognition, perception, emotional state and behaviour symptoms and signs Template:Speech and voice symptoms and signs Template:General symptoms and signs