73 ACCURACY OF OSCILLOMETRIC BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT IN CRITICALLY ILL NEONATES

Abstract

Studies on accuracy of the oscillometric blood pressure (BP) measurement technique in neonates are based on various methods and materials and conclusions are conflicting. Using an accurate technique, consisting of a high-fidelity catheter-manometer system, we determined BP values invasively in the radial artery and, simultaneously, oscillometrically in the brachial artery in the opposite arm. 255 paired values of systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP) and mean (MAP) arterial pressure were recorded in 51 critically ill neonates. For both SAP, DAP and MAP we computed mean differences (d) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) between the methods. We determined 95% limits of agreement to predict the range of intra-arterial values corresponding to each individual oscillometric value. Results are shown below in mmHg. In conclusion, the mean differences for SAP, DAP and MAP for the group are acceptable, but, the 95% limits to predict the intra-arterial value are clinically unacceptably wide. Care should be taken when interpreting oscillometrically derived BP values in critically ill neonates.