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Kussmaul sign refers to a paradoxical rise or lack of decrease in jugular venous pressure (JVP) during inspiration instead of the normal decrease.
Kussmaul sign is associated with conditions that impair right ventricular filling or compliance.
Condition | Pathophysiology |
---|---|
Constrictive Pericarditis | A Thickened pericardium restricts ventricular expansion. |
Restrictive Cardiomyopathies | A Stiff myocardium limits diastolic filling. |
Right Heart Failure | Poor right ventricular function leads to venous congestion. |
Massive Pulmonary Embolism | A Sudden increase in right ventricular afterload. |
Right Atrial or Ventricular Tumors | Physical obstruction to right heart filling. |
“Kussmaul’s Can Really Hurt My Right Atrium”
Recognizing the Kussmaul sign in a patient with jugular venous distension helps differentiate pericardial disease from cardiac tamponade, where JVP paradoxically decreases with inspiration (opposite of the Kussmaul sign).