Watson's Water Hammer Pulse - Causes

Causes

Water hammer pulse is commonly found when a patient has in aortic regurgitation. A more comprehensive list of causes follows:

1. Physiological

  • Fever
  • Pregnancy

2. Cardiac lesions

  • Aortic regurgitation
  • Patent ductus arteriosus
  • Systolic hypertension
  • Bradycardia
  • Aortopulmonary window
  • Rupture of sinus of Valsalva into heart chambers

3. Syndromes or High output states

  • Anemia
  • Cor pulmonale
  • Cirrhosis of liver
  • Beriberi
  • Thyrotoxicosis
  • Arteriovenous fistula
  • Paget's disease

4. Other causes

  • Chronic alcoholism

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