Am J Perinatol 2009; 26(2): 113-116
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1091391
© Thieme Medical Publishers

A Comparison of Blood Pressure Measurements in Newborns

Joyce O'Shea1 , Eugene M. Dempsey1
  • 1Department of Newborn Medicine, Coombe Women's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
19 November 2008 (online)

ABSTRACT

Blood pressure monitoring is an essential component of neonatal intensive care. We compared invasive and noninvasive (Dinamap, Marquette, and Dash) recordings in newborns and also noninvasive values obtained from upper and lower limbs. Infants' blood pressure was recorded every 6 hours for 72 hours using three noninvasive devices and compared with invasive readings taken simultaneously. Twenty-five babies were enrolled in the study, with birth weights of 560 to 4500 g and gestation 24 + 1 to 40 + 5 weeks. Three hundred thirty-two recordings were obtained. Comparison between invasive and noninvasive readings revealed that all three noninvasive monitors overread mean blood pressure. There was no significant difference between the cuff recordings obtained from the upper or lower limbs. All three noninvasive devices overestimated mean blood pressure values compared with invasive monitoring. Clinicians may be falsely reassured by noninvasive monitoring. Mean blood pressure values obtained from the upper and lower limb are similar.

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Dr. Eugene M Dempsey

Department of Newborn Medicine

Cork University Maternity Hospital Cork, Ireland

Email: gene.dempsey@mailp.hse.ie

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