Sarah Kneaskern Andrew Nottleman Laura Phillips Appropriate BP Cuff Size Proper sized blood pressure cuffs are important for accurate readings BP cuff that is too small causes false high BP reading ID: 258912
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Slide1
Evidenced Based Practice on Blood Pressure in Arm Vs. Forearm
Sarah
Kneaskern
, Andrew
Nottleman
, Laura PhillipsSlide2
Appropriate BP Cuff Size
Proper sized blood pressure cuffs are important for accurate readings.
BP cuff that is too small causes false high BP reading.
BP cuff that is too big causes false low BP reading.
Width of the cuff is 40% of the circumference of midpoint of the limb being used.
The bladder of the cuff should encircle at least 80% of the upper arm.Slide3
Positioning for BP Measurement
While obtaining BP make sure the arm is at heart level.
In sitting position, support and raise the arm to heart level.
While supine, may use a pillow to prop the arm at heart level.
Taking a BP in an unsupported arm can increase systolic BP up to 10 mm/hg.
Crossing the legs while obtaining BP can also increase BP, so keep legs uncrossed.Slide4
Inadequate BP Readings
False High BP Readings
False Low BP Readings
Crossed Legs
Arm
above heart level.
BP
cuff that is too small or narrow
BP cuff that is too big
or wide.
Deflating the cuff too slowly, less than
2-3 mm/hg.
Deflating
the cuff too fast, more than 2-3 mm/hg.
Arm below
heart level.
Not inflating the cuff enough.
Re-inflating
the cuff without completely deflating it.
Pressing the diaphragm
of the stethoscope too firmly on the brachial artery.
Failing to wait 1-2 minutes before obtaining
a repeat BP.Slide5
Forearm BP Indications
BP measurements in the upper arms may be contraindicated due to IVs, fistulas, casts, mastectomies, or obesity. In this case the forearm may be used for blood pressures.
Position
the appropriate size cuff midway between the elbow and the
wrist with the artery marker at the radial artery.
The
forearm and upper arm BP reading are not interchangeable. If you use the forearm to obtain
BP,
you
must
DOCUMENT
this
information. Slide6
Forearm BP
BP may
vary
5-10 mm/Hg
between extremities this is considered
normal (this
is why an average is recorded for the initial
visit).
BP
cuff size and circumference of the arm is a proportional relationship
but do not
use the same BP cuff on both
sites.
Forearm BP results in a 10-30 mm/Hg increase in BP Vs. an upper arm BP. Slide7
References
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, G., Pickering, T. (2010, Nov) Principles and Techniques of Blood Pressure Measurement.
NIH Public
Access
Author Manuscript
, 28(4): 571-568.
Doi
: 10.1016/j.ccl. 2010.07.006.
Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G.,
Stockert
, P. A., Hall, A. M. (2012).
Fundamentals of Nursing
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th
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Missouri
: Mosby.
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, D., &
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, M. (1992). Around-the-clock blood pressure monitoring: how to get good results.
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