"Water hammer pulse" is also described as a bounding, forceful pulse. It is most commonly seen in -

Correct option is D

Sol. Water hammer pulse (Corrigan's pulse) is a characteristic pulse seen in aortic regurgitation, a condition where blood flows back from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole due to an incompetent aortic valve. This leads to a rapid rise and fall in arterial pressure, creating a forceful, bounding pulse that can be felt especially at the radial artery when the arm is lifted. Other clinical signs of aortic regurgitation include wide pulse pressure, Quincke’s sign (capillary pulsations), and De Musset’s sign (head bobbing with heartbeat).
Explanation of Each Option:
· Sinus tachycardia: Incorrect; a normal increase in heart rate due to exercise or stress, but it does not cause a bounding pulse.
· Mitral valve stenosis: Incorrect; this condition leads to decreased cardiac output and pulmonary congestion but does not cause a bounding pulse.
· Ventricular fibrillation: Incorrect; a life-threatening arrhythmia that results in irregular heartbeats, not a characteristic pulse change.
· Aortic regurgitation: Correct answer; backward blood flow causes rapid arterial pressure fluctuations, creating a bounding pulse.