Abstract P-465: IS THIS BLOOD PRESSURE REAL?? A PILOT STUDY FOR A COMMON DILEMMA AT THE BEDSIDE

Abstract

Aims & Objectives: Blood pressure measurements are vital for monitoring critical patients. Non- invasive monitoring is usually performed via oscillatory method (OM). The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of automated oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitoring in the presence and absence of muscle spasms in patients with hypertensive values. Methods This was a prospective observational pilot study performed in a tertiary PICU between September 2017-December 2017. In case of high BP measurement via OM a second measurement was obtained by the bedside nurse. If the record was confirmed the second time, measurement was performed by a single operator (MD) using the auscultation method(AM). Demographic and relevant laboratory and clinical data (including concomitant muscle spasms) were recorded. Results Total of 100 measurements were performed in 6 patients during the study period. Female gender was in majority (66%). Demographic and pertinent data are shown in Table1. Measurements via OM vs AM are shown in Table 2. Correlation coefficient for SBP and DBP measurements was r=-0.01 (p=0.922) and r=0.33 (p=0.001) respectively. Muscle spasms were observed during 71% of the measurements. There was no correlation between 2 methods regarding SBP measurements with muscle spasms (r=0.12, p=0.313). Without muscle spasms a correlation existed between OM and AM (r=0.39, p=0.001).Conclusions Muscle contractions and increased tone may cause faulty BP measurements via standard OM in neuromuscular patients. Hypertensive measurements need to be confirmed via AM for validity for optimal approach. Confirmation may prevent medical anxiety and overtreatment.