What condition would likely produce a positive Kussmaul's sign?

Kussmaul's sign is characterized by an increase in jugular venous pressure (JVP) with inspiration, which is atypical since most individuals experience a decrease in JVP during inhalation. This phenomenon is often indicative of conditions that affect the heart's ability to expand properly during diastole.

Constrictive pericarditis is a condition where the pericardium becomes thickened and fibrotic, restricting the heart's movement and limiting its filling capacity. Consequently, during inspiration, increased venous return leads to elevated pressures within the heart and subsequently in the jugular veins, resulting in the positive Kussmaul's sign.

In contrast, left ventricular failure typically leads to pulmonary congestion and doesn't usually manifest with Kussmaul's sign, as the heart's failure affects the pressure dynamics differently. Pulmonary edema is a consequence of left-sided heart failure and does not demonstrate Kussmaul's sign. Coarctation of the aorta can cause differential blood pressure readings, but it does not elicit the specific changes in jugular venous pressure associated with Kussmaul's sign.

Thus, constrictive pericarditis is closely associated with Kussmaul's sign due to its restrictive