How can you tell if a patient might have auscultatory gab?

Answer 1

An auscultatory gap can be suspected if there is a significant difference between the systolic blood pressure readings when measured by palpation and auscultation. It often occurs in patients with hypertension or atherosclerosis and is characterized by a temporary absence of Korotkoff sounds during the deflation of the cuff. If a clinician detects a drop in sound after an initial systolic reading, followed by a reappearance of sounds at a lower pressure, this may indicate an auscultatory gap. Additionally, discrepancies in blood pressure measurements from different positions can also suggest the presence of an auscultatory gap.