Peripheral Arterial Pulse Volume Recording (PVR) and Photoplethysmography (PPG)

Normal

Abnormal

Photoplethysmography (PPG) or Pulse Volume Recording (PVR) waveform characteristics:

a. Normal: Rapid upstroke, sharp narrow peak, dicrotic notch and initial downslope may bow inward

b. Abnormal: Loss of distinct dicrotic notch, slower rise time with flat or rounded peak, downslope bowed away from baseline

c. Severely abnormal: prolonged upstroke, rounded systolic peak, absence of dicrotic notch, low amplitude to relatively flat

d. Vasospastic waveform: dicrotic notch is shifted to earlier point on the waveform and may be seen at mid peak or at the end of the upstroke