Correlation between invasive and noninvasive blood pressure measurements in severely burned children

Abstract

IntroductionAccurate blood pressure monitoring is essential for burn management, with the intra-arterial line method being the gold standard. Here we evaluated agreement between cuff and intra-arterial line methods. MethodsData from burned children admitted from 1997 to 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Simultaneously collected intra-arterial and cuff measurements were cross-matched and linear regression performed to assess agreement for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP). ResultsWe identified 9969 matches for SBP, DBP, and MAP in 872 patients (579 male) aged 8±5years with burns covering 52±20% of the total body surface area and a hospitalization lasting 33±31 days. Intra-arterial lines had a complication rate of 1%. The mean bias (95% CI) between methods was 1.3 (0.5, 2.1) mm Hg for SBP, −6.4 (−7.0, −5.7) mmHg for DBP, and −5.8 (−6.4, −5.3) mmHg for MAP. The standard deviation of the bias (95% limit of agreement) was 12.1 (−22.5, 25.1) mmHg for SBP, 9.9 (−25.8, 13.0) mmHg for DBP, and 8.7 (−22.8, 11.1) mmHg for MAP. ConclusionsCuff measurements vary widely from those of intra-arterial lines, which have a low complication rate. Intra-arterial lines are advisable when tight control of the hemodynamic response is essential.