Blood Pressure Monitoring

Question 1

What is blood pressure?

Answer 1

The driving force for blood flow (perfusion).
It is required to move blood thru resistant capillary beds such as brain, kidneys, & lungs.

Question 2

Systolic pressure

Answer 2

Arterial pressure generated during Left Ventricular contractions

Question 3

Diastolic pressure

Answer 3

Arterial pressure during Ventricular relaxation

Question 4

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

Answer 4

Calculation that evaluates perfusion pressure

Question 5

MAP formula
Minimum needed for organ perfusion

Answer 5

1/3 systolic + 2/3 diastolic
60mmHg

Question 6

Hypertension
1. Effect of it for extended periods (5)
2. Hypertensive BP in cats & dogs (systolic & diastolic)

Answer 6

1. Effects
   - Retinal hemorrhage / detachment
   - Kidney damage
   - Increased afterload for heart
   - Brain damage
   - Increased risk for emboli
2. Hyper BP
   - Systolic: >150mmHg
   - Diastolic: >90mmHg

Question 7

Malignant Hypertension
1. Clinical signs (5)
2. Treatment (2)

Answer 7

1. Signs
   - Sudden blindness
   - Head pressing / Disorientation
   - Epitaxis
   - Heart failure
   - Kidney failure
2. Tx
   - Emergency drugs to lower BP
   - Tx underlying cause (hyperthyroidism, cushings, etc)

Question 8

Hypotension
1. What is it?
2. What can it do?
3. MAP

Answer 8

1. Poor organ perfusion
2. Effects
   - Kidney failure
   - Pancreatitis
   - Heart arrhythmias
   - Cognitive dysfunction
3. MAP <60mmHg

Question 9

Blood pressure reading set up

Answer 9

1. Cuff 40% of circumference of leg at measurement location
   - Too small: artificially high
   - Too big: artificially low
2. Lateral recumbent with leg parallel to heart
   - Front leg most accurate
3. Relax patient!

Question 10

Central Venous Pressure (CVP)
1. Indications
2. Interpretation (normal one)
3. High CVP means (4)

Answer 10

1. Eval hypovolemia or hypervolemia in critical patient s
   - Shock, heart or renal disease
2. Normal range: 1-10cm h2o
   - Trends rising or falling v important
3. High CVP
   - R heart failure
   - Pleural effusion
   - Pulmonary hypertension
   - Over-hydration