BASAL SYSTOLIC MURMURS AND THE CAROTID PULSE CURVE IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CALCAREOUS AORTIC STENOSIS

Abstract

The salient features in the diagnosis of calcareous aortic stenosis have been reviewed and a new method for obtaining the carotid pulse curve has been described which utilizes a neck cuff under low pressure attached to a strain gauge transducer which in turn is connected to a carrier wave amplifier and recording is done on a conventional photographic recorder. This type of equipment is commonly available in catheterization laboratories and the technique is simple to perform and easy to reproduce. In the presence of hemodynamically significant aortic stenosis the carotid artery pulse curve shows a delayed upstroke revealed by an ejection angle of more than 25[degree] a diminished to absent incisura, a low pulse pressure and a delayed systolic upstroke time. This is not considered a diagnostic entity in itself except in very severe calcareous aortic stenosis.