When caring for an infant during cardiac arrest, which pulse must be palpated to determine cardiac function?
A- Carotid
B- Brachial
C- Pedal
D- Radial
Correct Response: B
The brachial pulse is the most accessible pulse on an infant and, therefore, it is the site of choice. The carotid pulse may be difficult to palpate due to the fatty tissue that typically, and often, surrounds an infant’s neck. Lastly, the radial and pedal pulses may not be reliable indicators of cardiac function.
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With each heartbeat the ventricles contract by expelling the blood from the heart, propelling it into the arteries. The pulse is the pressure wave that occurs with each beat or passage of blood through the arteries; It is most easily felt at the points where the arteries are or are closest to the surface by gently pressing on a bone or solid organ. To palpate (feel) the pulse, join your index and middle fingers and place them on the pulse point, pressing the artery until you feel intermittent pulsations or jumps. Sometimes it may be necessary to slide your fingers a little, on each side and press again until you feel the pulse. When palpating the pulse do not allow your thumb to touch the patient, because if you do so you can confuse the pulse of your thumb with the patient's pulse.
In conscious patients over one year of age, the radial pulse should be palpated in the wrist.
In an unconscious patient, over one year of age, the carotid pulse should be palpated in the neck. When palpating the carotid pulse you should place the tips of your index and middle fingers along the carotid artery, in the groove between the trachea and the neck muscle.
Be careful when palpating the pulse of the carotid artery in a conscious patient, especially in an older patient; you should only apply gentle pressure on one side of the neck. Never press the carotid arteries on both sides at the same time; since it can reduce blood circulation to the brain.
In infants, the pulse, both radial and carotid are difficult to locate, because the trachea is soft and immature in infants it is not recommended to palpate the carotid pulse in them.
In children under one year of age, palpate the brachial pulse, located in the medial area (lower side) of the arm.
With the infant supine, you can access the brachial pulse by raising the arm above the infant's head. Since most infants have chubby arms, in order to palpate the pulse, you need to firmly press the fingertips along the brachial artery, which is located parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm.
Your first consideration when taking the pulse is to determine if the patient has a palpable pulse, or does not have a pulse. When you take the pulse you should assess and report its frequency, strength and regularity.
A- Carotid
B- Brachial
C- Pedal
D- Radial
Correct Response: B
The brachial pulse is the most accessible pulse on an infant and, therefore, it is the site of choice. The carotid pulse may be difficult to palpate due to the fatty tissue that typically, and often, surrounds an infant’s neck. Lastly, the radial and pedal pulses may not be reliable indicators of cardiac function.
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With each heartbeat the ventricles contract by expelling the blood from the heart, propelling it into the arteries. The pulse is the pressure wave that occurs with each beat or passage of blood through the arteries; It is most easily felt at the points where the arteries are or are closest to the surface by gently pressing on a bone or solid organ. To palpate (feel) the pulse, join your index and middle fingers and place them on the pulse point, pressing the artery until you feel intermittent pulsations or jumps. Sometimes it may be necessary to slide your fingers a little, on each side and press again until you feel the pulse. When palpating the pulse do not allow your thumb to touch the patient, because if you do so you can confuse the pulse of your thumb with the patient's pulse.
In conscious patients over one year of age, the radial pulse should be palpated in the wrist.
In an unconscious patient, over one year of age, the carotid pulse should be palpated in the neck. When palpating the carotid pulse you should place the tips of your index and middle fingers along the carotid artery, in the groove between the trachea and the neck muscle.
Be careful when palpating the pulse of the carotid artery in a conscious patient, especially in an older patient; you should only apply gentle pressure on one side of the neck. Never press the carotid arteries on both sides at the same time; since it can reduce blood circulation to the brain.
In infants, the pulse, both radial and carotid are difficult to locate, because the trachea is soft and immature in infants it is not recommended to palpate the carotid pulse in them.
In children under one year of age, palpate the brachial pulse, located in the medial area (lower side) of the arm.
With the infant supine, you can access the brachial pulse by raising the arm above the infant's head. Since most infants have chubby arms, in order to palpate the pulse, you need to firmly press the fingertips along the brachial artery, which is located parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm.
Your first consideration when taking the pulse is to determine if the patient has a palpable pulse, or does not have a pulse. When you take the pulse you should assess and report its frequency, strength and regularity.
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