Alternating pulse (pulsus alternans) (Figure 227.2) is characterized by regular rhythm of the pulse waves with alternating high and low amplitude and is caused by the alternation of different strength of heart contractions with severe left ventricular dysfunction. Usually alternating pulse is combined with a loud voice III heart. It occurs in the absence of organic lesions of the heart: paroxysms of tachycardia during and immediately after their termination, as well as for several cardiac cycles after the extrasystole.
Alternating pulse alternation of the heart - a special form of arrhythmia, which is clinically manifested in the correct succession of full-systoles systolic weak heartbeat. This is a rare rhythm disturbance caused by a decrease in cardiac contractile function in severe myocardial injury, especially when combined with hypertension and tachycardia. Accordingly, the power of the systolic contractions of the heart varies the intensity of heart sounds: the case of strong muscle contraction - normal tones, with the weak - the deaf.
Alternating pulse may be confused with bigeminy, but after the second bigeminy (extrasystolic) wave is a compensatory pause.
With the disappearance of the causal factors that lower the contractile force of cardiac muscle, intermittent pulse disappears.
Continuous alternating pulses - the terrible symptom of heart failure. Treat the underlying disease, heart funds are used.
Tags: pulsus, pulsus alternans