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What is Asthma Pulsus Paradoxus? – Video
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Video at a Glance
- This video continues the series on asthma exacerbations with a lesson on pulsus paradoxus.
- Pulsus paradoxus is when there is a significant difference in blood pressure between inspiration and expiration.
- In a normal patient, the variation is usually less than 10 mm Hg. Abnormal readings are in the range of 25 – 40 mm Hg.
- A patient with mild asthma exacerbation will show less than 10 mm Hg variation, moderate is usually between 10 – 25 mm Hg, and severe > 25 mm Hg.
- In severe cases, the doctor can detect it just by feeling the pulse, but it always needs to be confirmed with a blood pressure cuff.
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