Cardio - Blood Pressure

Question 1

How do we prepare the sphygmomanometer?

Answer 1

Find one of appropriate size cuff (bladder - 80% of arm circumfrence)
Remove tubes then squeeze any excess air out

Question 2

How do we prepare the patient?

Answer 2

Seated upright and relaxed
Upper arm fully exposed:
- Abducted, supinated and elbow extended
- Supported a level of heart

Question 3

Applying the Cuff?

Answer 3

• Apply snugly the right way round (‘patient’ mark against skin)
• Bladder centered over cubital fossa (tubes coming down to ant elbow but not interfering with stethoscope)
• Reconnect tubes and close valve

Question 4

How do we locate the brachial artery?

Answer 4

Medial to biceps tendon and lateral to muscle bulk.

Its more medial and superior than you think

Use your thumb

Question 5

How do we estimate the BP?

Answer 5

Inflate until the pulse dissapears

If your not certain let the air out slowly till you feel it reappear then deflate rapidly

Question 6

How do we go about finding an accurate BP?

Answer 6

Apply stethoscope to brachial artery, ensuring no contact with cuff.

Reinflate to 30mmHg > estimated systolic

Drop pressure at 2mmHg/s

note when sounds appear - Systolic

Note when suonds dissapear - Diastolic

(in some people they don’t dissapear, note when they become muffled for diastolic)