- Position the patient's arm so
the anticubital fold is level with the heart
- Center the bladder of the cuff over the
brachial artery approximately 2 cm above the anticubital fold.
Proper
cuff size is essential to obtain an accurate reading. Be sure
the index line falls between the size marks when you apply the cuff.
Position the patient's arm so it is slightly flexed at the elbow
- Palpate the radial pulse and inflate
the cuff until the pulse disappears.
This is a rough estimate of the
systolic pressure
- Place the stetescope over the brachial
artery. Use the Diaphragm.
Even though Korotkoff sounds are low frequency
and should be heard better with the bell, it is often difficult to
apply the bell properly to the anticubital fold. For this reason, it
is common practice to use the diaphragm when taking the blood pressure
- Inflate the cuff to 30 mmHg above the
estimated systolic pressure
- Release the pressure slowly, no greater
than 5 mmHg per second
- The level at which you consistantly hear
beats is the systolic pressure.
In situations where ausculation is
not possible, you can determine systolic blood pressure by palpation
alone. Deflate the cuff until you feel the radial or brachial pulse
return.
The pressure by auscultation would be approximately 10 mmHg
higher.
Record the pressure indicating it was taken by palpation (60/palp)
- Continue to lower the pressure until
the sounds muffle and disappear. This is the diastolic pressure
- Record the blood pressure as systolic
over diastolic (120/70)
- Blood pressure should be taken in both
arms on the first encount
|
|