Method Of Exam

• Palpate one side at a time.
• Gently tilt the head to relax the sternomastoid muscle.
• Palpate the carotid artery by placing your fingers near the upper neck between the sternomastoid and trachea roughly at the level of cricoid cartilage..
• Repeat the procedure on the opposite side.
• Palpate simultaneously carotid artery and apical impulse and note the timing between them.

Caution:

• Avoid compression of carotid sinus which is located at the level of the top of thyroid cartilage.
• Avoid simultaneous palpation of both carotid arteries.

Normal: Carotid artery pulsations are symmetrical and have similar characteristics as the radial artery.