Other name of collapsing pulse is?

HPSSC Staff Nurse - 2021

Nursing Foundation

Easy

Appeared in: HPSSC Staff Nurse - 2021

Explanation

A collapsing pulse is medically known by several other names, most commonly the 'Water hammer pulse' or 'Corrigan's pulse'.
This pulse is characterized by a very rapid and forceful upstroke (the 'hammer') followed by an equally rapid descent or disappearance (the 'collapse').
It is a classic physical sign of chronic severe aortic regurgitation, where a large stroke volume is ejected into the aorta, followed by rapid diastolic runoff of blood back into the left ventricle.
The sensation is often exaggerated by elevating the patient's arm above the level of the heart, which increases the hydrostatic pressure effect and makes the collapse more palpable.

Option A: A thready pulse is weak, rapid, and has a low volume. It feels like a fine thread under the fingers and is the opposite of a strong, collapsing pulse.
Option C: A bounding pulse is a strong, forceful pulse. While it has a large volume like a water hammer pulse, it does not have the characteristic sudden collapse.
Option D: A pulse deficit is not a type of pulse character but a numerical difference. It is the discrepancy between the heart rate counted at the apex of the heart (apical rate) and the pulse rate felt at a peripheral artery (like the radial artery).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Recognition of synonyms for specific pulse characteristics in cardiovascular assessment as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing a water hammer pulse is a critical nursing assessment skill that can indicate severe, underlying cardiovascular disease, primarily aortic regurgitation.
To assess for a collapsing pulse, the nurse should palpate the patient's radial or brachial artery while simultaneously elevating the patient's arm. This maneuver accentuates the collapsing nature of the pulse.
If a water hammer pulse is detected, the nurse should immediately assess for other signs of cardiovascular distress, such as a wide pulse pressure (e.g., 160/50 mmHg), shortness of breath, and listen for heart murmurs. This finding must be reported to the physician for further investigation, typically with an echocardiogram.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core term in the question: 'collapsing pulse'.
The question asks for an 'other name', indicating you need to recall a synonym from your medical terminology knowledge.
Evaluate each option: 'Thready pulse' means weak. 'Bounding pulse' means strong but not necessarily collapsing. 'Pulse deficit' is a rate difference, not a pulse character.
'Water hammer pulse' is a classic synonym for a collapsing pulse, named for the sensation it creates.
The image provided reinforces this by labeling the illustration 'Collapsing Pulse or Water Hammer Pulse', directly giving you the answer.
Therefore, select the option that is a direct synonym for the term in the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Recognition of synonyms for specific pulse characteristics in cardiovascular assessment.
Stem keywords: collapsing pulse
Lead-in keywords: Other name
Negative lead-in flag: false

Q8FsnfCizyw1TthvdOHvGR

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 pp. 1903-1905, 2085-2087

E6 Medicine Macleod Clinical Examination 15e p. 61-63