Calculate the pulse pressure from the below image of cardiac monitor:

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO- 2019

Explanation

Pulse pressure is defined as the difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
The cardiac monitor in the image shows a systolic pressure of 115 mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 70 mmHg.
The calculation is straightforward: 115 mmHg (Systolic) - 70 mmHg (Diastolic) = 45 mmHg.
A pulse pressure of 45 mmHg falls within the normal range of 40-60 mmHg, indicating healthy cardiovascular function in this specific aspect.

Option A: 35 mmHg is an incorrect calculation. This value might be obtained by misreading the blood pressure values or a simple arithmetic error.
Option C: 55 mmHg is an incorrect calculation. This value is not the result of subtracting 70 from 115.
Option D: 40 mmHg is a plausible but incorrect answer. While it falls within the normal range for pulse pressure, it is not the correct calculation based on the provided monitor readings.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Calculation of pulse pressure from vital signs displayed on a cardiac monitor as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Monitoring pulse pressure is a crucial nursing assessment as it provides insight into a patient's cardiovascular health, specifically stroke volume and arterial stiffness.
A consistently narrow pulse pressure (less than 40 mmHg) can be an early sign of deteriorating conditions like shock or heart failure, prompting the nurse to perform a more detailed assessment and notify the healthcare provider.
A wide pulse pressure (greater than 60 mmHg) can indicate issues like stiff arteries (common in older adults) or aortic valve problems, requiring long-term management and patient education.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core task of the question, which is to 'Calculate the pulse pressure'.
Next, carefully examine the provided image of the cardiac monitor to find the necessary data. Locate the Non-Invasive Blood Pressure (NIBP) reading.
Identify the systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) pressures from the NIBP value. In this case, 115 and 70.
Recall the formula for pulse pressure: Pulse Pressure = Systolic BP - Diastolic BP.
Perform the subtraction: 115 - 70 = 45.
Finally, compare your calculated result (45 mmHg) with the given options and select the matching one.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Calculation of pulse pressure from vital signs displayed on a cardiac monitor.
Stem keywords: Calculate, pulse pressure, cardiac monitor
Lead-in keywords: Calculate
Clinical cues: NIBP reading of 115/70 mmHg is the key data point from the image.

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E6 Nursing Vital Signs pp. 81-83, 80-82

Practise the full AIIMS Delhi NO- 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.