Podcast #249: Detecting Pulses

Author: Jared Scott, M.D.

Educational Pearls

• Overall, medical providers are bad at detecting pulses.
• However, only 2% of patients do not have a detectable DP pulse.
• In one study, for patients with limb claudication, there was only about 50% agreement on the presence of a DP pulse.

References: Brearley et al. Peripheral pulse palpation: an unreliable physical sign. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 1992