Module 3: Pediatric Shock, including Vascular Access
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- Palpation of central and peripheral pulses provides important information for the cardiovascular examination:
- Determines the heart rate and some indirect evidence of stroke volume and systemic vascular resistance.
- Pulse quality reflects the adequacy of peripheral perfusion.
- Weak or absent pulses may indicate poor stroke volume, increased systemic vascular resistance, or both.
- Loss of perfusion in hands and feet often precedes hypotension and critical loss of vital organ perfusion in shock
- Hypotension often develops before loss of central pulses
Module 3: Pediatric Shock, including Vascular Access
