Cannon A waves

Cannon A waves, or cannon atrial waves, are waves seen occasionally in the jugular vein of humans with certain cardiac arrhythmias. When the atria and ventricles contract simultaneously, the blood will be pushed against the AV valve, and a very large pressure wave runs up the vein.^[1]^[2] It is associated with heart block, in particular third-degree (complete) heart block.^[3] It is also seen in pulmonary hypertension.^[3] Cannon A waves may also be seen in ventricular tachycardia due to the inherent AV dissociation of the arrhythmia.

This wave will cause pulsation in the neck and abdomen, headache, cough, and jaw pain.^[2]

References

↑ "cannon A waves - definition of cannon A waves in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.".
1 2 "Pacemaker Syndrome: Overview - eMedicine Cardiology".
1 2 Sam, Amir H.; James T.H. Teo (2010). Rapid Medicine. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 1-4051-8323-3.

Symptoms and signs relating to the cardiovascular system (R00–R03, 785)

Chest pain	Referred pain Angina Aerophagia

Auscultation	Heart sounds Split S2 S3 S4 Gallop rhythm Heart murmur Systolic Diastolic Continuous Pericardial friction rub Heart click Bruit carotid

Pulse	Tachycardia Bradycardia Pulsus tardus et parvus Pulsus paradoxus doubled Pulsus bisferiens Dicrotic pulse Pulsus bigeminus Pulsus alternans

Vascular disease	Gangrene

Other	Palpitations Apex beat Cœur en sabot Jugular venous pressure Cannon A waves Hyperaemia

Shock	Cardiogenic Hypovolemic Distributive Septic Neurogenic

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