Peripheral pULSe Assessment and Arterial pRessure (PULSAR)
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Peripheral Pulse Palpation.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Circulatory Shock, Hemodynamic Instability, Hypotension, Shock. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Sweden
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Association Between Palpable Peripheral Pulses and Arterial Blood Pressure in Patients With Circulatory Shock: An International Prospective Multicenter Observational Cohort Study
Overview
This prospective multicenter observational study aims to investigate the relationship between palpable peripheral pulses and simultaneously measured arterial blood pressure in adult patients with circulatory shock or impending circulatory failure. Peripheral pulse palpation is routinely used in emergency medicine, trauma care, critical care, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a rapid clinical assessment of circulation. However, the association between palpable pulses and actual arterial blood pressure remains poorly validated. Patients treated in emergency departments, intensive care units, operating rooms, and other acute care settings will undergo routine pulse palpation at predefined anatomical locations including carotid, femoral, and radial arteries. Simultaneously measured non-invasive and/or invasive arterial blood pressure values will be recorded from routine clinical monitoring systems. Additional clinical variables relevant to circulatory status will also be collected. The study seeks to define blood pressure thresholds associated with pulse palpability and evaluate the agreement between invasive and non-invasive blood pressure measurements in patients with circulatory shock.
Detailed description
The presence or absence of palpable peripheral pulses is widely used as a rapid bedside indicator of circulatory status during trauma care, emergency medicine, intensive care, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) teaching traditionally assumes that palpable pulses at different anatomical sites correspond to specific systolic blood pressure thresholds. However, these assumptions are based on limited evidence from small observational studies.
This international multicenter prospective observational cohort study aims to investigate the relationship between palpable carotid, femoral, and radial pulses and simultaneously measured arterial blood pressure in adult patients with circulatory shock or impending circulatory failure.
Patients receiving routine hemodynamic monitoring with non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) and/or invasive arterial blood pressure (IBP) monitoring will be included. Pulse palpation will be performed during routine clinical care without altering treatment or management.
The primary objective is to determine the association between pulse palpability and measured systolic blood pressure. Secondary objectives include identifying blood pressure thresholds associated with pulse palpability, evaluating agreement between invasive and non-invasive blood pressure measurements, and assessing whether patient factors such as vascular disease or vasoactive medication use influence pulse palpability.
Interventions
- Procedure Peripheral Pulse Palpation
Manual palpation of carotid, femoral, and radial pulses performed during routine clinical care in patients with circulatory instability. Simultaneous arterial blood pressure measurements are recorded from standard monitoring systems. No study-specific treatment or intervention is administered.
Primary outcome measures
- Association between palpable pulses and systolic arterial blood pressure [Time frame: During episodes of circulatory instability, up to 24 hours after inclusion]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Mean arterial pressure associated with pulse palpability [Time frame: During episodes of circulatory instability, up to 24 hours after inclusion]
- Agreement between non-invasive and invasive blood pressure measurements [Time frame: During episodes of circulatory instability, up to 24 hours after inclusion]
- Effect of vascular disease and vasoactive medication on pulse palpability [Time frame: During hospital admission, up to 30 days]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Clinical signs of circulatory shock or impending circulatory failure
- Availability of non-invasive and/or invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring
- Pulse palpation possible without interfering with emergency care
Exclusion criteria
- Peripheral vascular conditions preventing reliable pulse palpation
- Major extremity amputation affecting assessment sites
- Clinical situations where study procedures interfere with life-saving treatment
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Sweden · 1 center
- Region Stockholm, all hospitals — Stockholm
Publications
- Gunther M, Dahlberg M, Rostami A, Azadali A, Arborelius UP, Linder F, Rostami E. Incidence, Demographics, and Outcomes of Penetrating Trauma in Sweden During the Past Decade. Front Neurol. 2021 Nov 15;12:730405. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.730405. eCollection 2021. PMID 34867718
- Kim SH, Lilot M, Sidhu KS, Rinehart J, Yu Z, Canales C, Cannesson M. Accuracy and precision of continuous noninvasive arterial pressure monitoring compared with invasive arterial pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Anesthesiology. 2014 May;120(5):1080-97. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000226. PMID 24637618
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07609095 · 2026-02475-01