A healthcare provider is assessing a patient who has a pericardial effusion and notes a pulsus paradoxus. A student asks for an explanation of how this occurs. What description by the professional is best?
A)Diastolic filling pressures of the right ventricle and reduction of blood volume in both ventricles
B)Blood ejected from the right atrium and reduction of blood volume in the right ventricle
C)Blood ejected from the left atrium and reduction of blood volume in the left ventricle
D)Diastolic filling pressures of the left ventricle and reduction of blood volume in all four heart chambers

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pulsus paradoxus means that the arterial blood pressure during expiration exceeds arterial pressure during inspiration by more than 10 mmHg. This clinical finding reflects impairment of diastolic filling of the left ventricle plus a reduction of blood volume within all four cardiac chambers.

A Healthcare Provider Is Assessing a Patient Who Has a Pericardial