Pulsus bigeminus
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Pulsus bigeminus is a cardiovascular phenomenon characterized by groups of two heartbeats close together followed by a longer pause. The second pulse is weaker than the first. It is caused by premature contractions, usually of the ventricles, after every other beat.
Causes of pulsus bigeminus
It can be a sign of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy or of many other types of heart disease. It can also be an innocent and passing phenomenon.