Podcast 779: Pulse Pressure in Trauma

Pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, normal is about 40

A narrow pulse pressure is generally thought of as less than 30 mmHg which may signal peripheral vasoconstriction in response to lower blood volumes

2020 study examined hypotension and narrow pulse pressure in trauma and outcomes

37% of patients who were hypotensive on ED arrival had a severe injury, 22% of patients who had a narrow pulse pressure had a severe injury, and 11% of patients with normal blood pressure and normal pulse pressure had a severe injury

Need for thoracotomy, death, cardiac arrest, and need for other interventions was highest in the hypotensive group, the lowest in the normal blood pressure/normal pulse pressure group, and narrow pulse pressure group outcomes fell in the middle

Narrow pulse pressure in the setting of trauma may be a helpful vital sign to incorporate into trauma care in the ED