What Is Corrigan Pulse

Corrigan pulse: A pulse that is forceful and then suddenly collapses. It is usually found in patients with aortic regurgitation, a condition caused by a leaky aortic valve. The left ventricle of the heart ejects blood under high pressure into the aorta.

What does Corrigan's pulse mean?

Corrigan pulse describes the excessive visible pulsations of arteries in patients with aortic valve insufficiency, most obvious in the head and superior extremity arteries when the patient is upright; in particular, the subclavian, carotid, temporal, brachial, and palmar arteries.

Why is it called water hammer pulse?

This type of pulse was likened to a water hammer, a Victorian toy consisting of a glass tube filled partly with water or mercury in a vacuum. The water or mercury produced a slapping impact when the glass tube was turned over. Also called a Corrigan pulse or a cannonball, collapsing, pistol-shot, or trip-hammer pulse.