What it means
No pulse can be felt at a site where one is expected. A missing pulse in one limb means blood is not reaching it, as in arterial blockage; it is one of the "6 Ps" of limb ischemia. No pulse at the carotid artery in an unresponsive person means the heart is not pumping effectively (cardiac arrest). The adjective is pulseless: pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is an organized rhythm on the monitor with no pulse, and pulseless ventricular tachycardia is a fast ventricular rhythm with no pulse.
For the nurse
Check with a Doppler before deciding a limb pulse is absent, and compare with the other side. In an unresponsive person, check the carotid pulse for no more than 10 seconds, then call for help and start cardiopulmonary resuscitationkar-dee-oh-PUL-muh-nair-ee rih-sus-ih-TAY-shunEmergency chest compressions, with or without rescue breaths, to keep blood flowing when the heart has stopped.cardi/o heartpulmon/o lung-ary relating toresuscitation bringing back to lifeFull entry if there is none.
At a glance
| Also written | pulseless |
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Related terms
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Emergency chest compressions, with or without rescue breaths, to keep blood flowing when the heart has stopped.
ischemia
Too little blood flow to a part of the body, so the tissue does not get enough oxygen.
poikilothermia
The inability to keep a steady temperature, so the body or a body part takes on the temperature around it.
six P's
A memory aid listing six things checked in a limb: pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesia, paralysis and poikilothermia (coldness).
code blue
A hospital emergency call that brings the resuscitation team to a person whose heart or breathing has stopped.