Bradycardia physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Common physical examination findings of bradycardia include decreased level of consciousness, cyanosis, peripheral edema, pulmonary vascular congestion, dyspnea, poor perfusion, and syncope.

• Patients with bradycardia can appear cyanotic and dyspneic.^[1]

• Peripheral pulses reveal a slow and regular heart rate.

• Cyanosis

• HEENT examination of patients with bradycardia is usually normal.

• Neck examination of patients with bradycardia is usually normal.

• Fine/coarse crackles upon auscultation of the lung bases/apices unilaterally/bilaterally.

• Dyspnea

• Cardiac auscultation and palpation of peripheral pulses reveal a slow, regular heart rate.^[2]

• Abdominal distension and
• Abdominal tenderness in the right/left upper/lower abdominal quadrant in case of congestive heart failure.

• Back examination of patients with bradycardia is usually normal.

• Genitourinary examination of patients with bradycardia is usually normal.

• Neuromuscular examination of patients with bradycardia is usually normal.

• Clubbing^[3]
• Cyanosis
• Pitting/non-pitting edema of the upper/lower extremities