The condition of the vessel wall should be noted for evidence of arterial thickening and undue mobility. Medial sclerosis is unrelated to hypertension. Obliteration of the blood column proximal to the examining finger is necessary; otherwise a full tension pulse in hypertension may be mistaken for hardening of the vessel wall. Other superficial arteries, e.g. brachial and temporal, should also be palpated.
In younger hypertensives and in children suspected of having congenital heart disease the femoral pulses should always be examined. Absence, weakness or delay may be due to coarctation of the aorta, in which the blood pressure in the lower limbs will be reduced, in contrast to the raised pressure in the upper limbs. In peripheral vascular disease, the pulses should be felt and compared in the femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis vessels.
0 comments:
Post a Comment