Definition
1. Inspiratory decrease in arterial pressure >10 mm Hg
2. Inspiratory venous pressure unchanged (Kussmaul's Sign)
Causes
1. Pericardial Effusion
2. Adhesive Pericarditis
3. Cardiac Tamponade
4. Pulmonary Emphysema
5. Severe Asthma
6. Para-mediastinal effusion
7. Endocardial fibrosis
8. Myocardial Amyloidosis
9. Scleroderma
10. Mitral Stenosis with right Heart Failure
11. Tricuspid stenosis
12. Hypovolemia
13. Pulmonary Embolism
Signs
1. Palpable decrease in pulse with inspiration
2. Inspiratory systolic Blood Pressure decreased
  1. Over 10 mm Hg less than expiratory pressure

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised on 4/26/2008 9:07:50 PM. This page was last published on 4/29/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.