Non-invasive blood pressure measurement in neonates
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Non invasive blood pressure measurement in neonates:comparative analysis of different methods for reliability
IRAS ID
133892
Contact name
Shalabh Garg
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
In babies,it is important to keep blood pressure in normal range as low or high blood pressure can have negative impact on various vital organs i.e. brain,kidney.Similarly the intervention/treatment in response to abnormal blood pressure has significant effect on baby's condition if the blood pressure has been accurately measured.Under or over treatment of blood pressure can cause damage to vital organs.
The most reliable method to measure blood pressure is by putting a catheter in one of the arteries of baby i.e. umbilical artery in belly button or radial artery in forearm.This is a direct measurement of blood pressure and is most reliable.However this is a difficult procedure and is not always successful.There are also complications associated with these catheters in the form of bleeding and infections.This necessitates the use of a simpler but reliable method to measure blood pressure.One of the most common methods is automated system where cuff is applied to babies arm and readings are generated electronically by inflation and deflation of cuff.This is non invasive.Although this is most commonly used however it has not found to be very reliable in some studies and in clinical settings when compared to direct invasive measurement from the artery through the catheters.
The other method used infrequently is doppler method which is a hand held instrument and picks up sounds from flow of blood in arteries.This is another form of non invasive method and utilises cuff to control flow in the artery and then take readings by doppler when sound of flow come and cease.This method has been found more reliable in clinical practise when correlated with direct arterial blood pressure measurement.However there is not enough evidence to support this and this study will look at comparison of these indirect methods when correlated with direct arterial method.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/1031
Date of REC Opinion
1 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion