180 - Dicrotic pulse

The dicrotic pulse has two palpable waves, one in the systole and one in diastole (Figure above). It usually denotes a very low stroke volume, particularly in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

A dicrotic pulse results from an accentuated dicrotic wave and tends to occur in patients with

*sepsis, 
*severe heart failure, 
*hypovolemic shock, 
*cardiac tamponade, and 
*aortic valve replacement.