apex - radial pulse deficit
Last reviewed 05/2021
- atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia that can result in a rapid,
irregular heart rate
- this may cause an apex-radial pulse deficit, because each ventricular
contraction may not be sufficiently strong to transmit an arterial pulse
wave through the peripheral artery
- therefore assessment of the radial pulse in isolation will not be
an accurate reflection of the actual heart rate. Other causes for
an apex-radial pulse deficit include atrial flutter
- in the absence of cardiac monitoring, the assessment of the apex beat (together with the radial pulse) is an important aspect of the assessment of the patient with AF
- therefore assessment of the radial pulse in isolation will not be
an accurate reflection of the actual heart rate. Other causes for
an apex-radial pulse deficit include atrial flutter
- this may cause an apex-radial pulse deficit, because each ventricular
contraction may not be sufficiently strong to transmit an arterial pulse
wave through the peripheral artery