Flashcards in Examination: Blood Pressure Deck (12)
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1
What is BP?
Pressure of blood in the arteries as it is pumped around the body by the heart.
2
What influences BP?
Age, Exercise, anxiety, coffee, medications etc.
3
How is BP measured?
With a sphygmomanometer.
4
(BP) Step 1:
Prepare the Patient:
- introduction
- confidentiality
- explain the process
- setting
- uncovered upper arm
5
(BP) Step 2:
Hand Hygeine
6
(BP) Step 3:
Select the appropriate cuff:
- Bladder length needs to be ~80% of the circumference of the arm and the width ~40%.
- If too small --> BP will be artificially high
7
(BP) Step 4:
Apply the cuff:
- Feel for the brachial pulse (medial aspect of the antecubital fossa)
- Wrap the cuff on the medial side of the arm with the arrow pointing to the brachial artery.
- Use a pillow to ensure the cuff is at the level of the heart.
8
(BP) Step 5:
Estimate SBP with palpation:
- feel for radial pulse and inflate cuff until that pulse dissapears
- release the cuff completely and wait 30 seconds
9
(BP) Step 6:
Listen to brachial pulse:
- Place diaphragm over brachial pulse and inflate the cuff to just above the SBP reading you got earlier
10
(BP) Step 7:
Listen:
- Slowly deflate the cuff watching the pressure and listen for the auscultatory sounds.
11
(BP) Step 8:
Record the result and thank the patient
12
