What it means
Raising the arms narrows the opening at the top of the chest. If a mass, most often a large goiter that extends behind the breastbone, already crowds that space, the big veins back up: the face flushes and darkens, the neck veins swell, and the person may feel short of breath or make a stridor sound. It is named after Hugh Pemberton, a British physician.
For the nurse
Stop the test and lower the arms if the client becomes short of breath, and report the finding.
At a glance
| Also written | Pemberton's sign |
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