ausculatory gap

Etiology

• may be related to atherosclerosis of the brachial artery

Epidemiology

• common in older adults

Clinical manifestations

• occurs when Korotkoff sounds are soft or absent transiently as the cuff pressure is lowered
• if one does not palpate the radial pulse to determine the maximum blood pressure, the cuff may be inflated to a point below the true maximum

More general terms

• sign/symptom