Cardiology Jugular Venous Pulse

Jugular Venous Waveform in Atrial Fibrillation

The jugular venous pulse can provide a clue to the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. The a wave of the jugular venous waveform occurs as a result of right atrial contraction. Because atrial fibrillation does not allow for coordinated atrial contraction, the a wave disappears. Similarly, since there is no atrial relaxation in the setting of atrial fibrillation, the x descent is smaller than normal.
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Patient 2

This patient has atrial fibrillation.

Jugular Venous Waveform in Atrial Fibrillation