A 58-year-old man on ICU has an arterial line showing a systolic blood pressure of 135 mmHg and a diastolic of 50 mmHg. What is his pulse pressure and...

Question

A 58-year-old man on ICU has an arterial line showing a systolic blood pressure of 135 mmHg and a diastolic of 50 mmHg. What is his pulse pressure and what condition commonly produces this wide pulse pressure pattern?

Accepted Answer

Pulse pressure = 85 mmHg - consistent with aortic regurgitation, severe sepsis (high CO/low SVR), thyrotoxicosis, or significant arterial stiffness

Answer

Pulse pressure = 85 mmHg - this is normal

Answer

Pulse pressure = 185 mmHg

Answer

Pulse pressure = 50 mmHg - this is narrow

Answer

Pulse pressure cannot be calculated from systolic and diastolic values

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Wide Pulse Pressure

A 58-year-old man on ICU has an arterial line showing a systolic blood pressure of 135 mmHg and a diastolic of 50 mmHg. What is his pulse pressure and what condition commonly produces this wide pulse pressure pattern?