Pressure amplitude (pediatrics)

Pressure amplitude (or pulse pressure or pulse pressure) measures difference between the values systolic and diastolic bp. Approximately its decrease or increase can be assessed from the recording of the arterial curve during IBP measurements. In conditions with reduced cardiac output (eg heart insufficiency, hypovolemia) we find reduced values, on the contrary in condition with hyperkinetic circulation (eg high flow phase sepsis, fever, anemia) we see an increase in amplitude. Special cases of pulse pressure enlargement are some heart defects characterized by an accelerated decrease in diastole blood pressure (normal decrease in diastole pressure is attributed to blood leakage into the arterial bed - so-called aortic run-off) – significant aortic insufficiency, ductus arteriosus patens, large AV malformations, truncus arteriosus communis or aortopulmonary window.

Related articles

 * Pressure amplitude
 * Shock (pediatrics)

Source

 * HAVRÁNEK, Jiří: Šok. (upraveno)
 * ws:Tlaková amplituda (pediatrie)