Comparison of automatic oscillometric arterial pressure measurement with conventional auscultatory measurement in the labour ward

Abstract

We have compared two non-invasive methods of arterial pressure (AP) measurement used in labour wards: an automatic oscillometric measurement obtained by Dinamap 1846. and a conventional auscultatory measurement obtained by midwives. A total of 369 AP measurements were recorded, involving 28 normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women during labour, with or without extra-dura I analgesia. Compared with the midwife group, the Dinamap group had a greater systolic AP, by 2.7 mm Hg (? <0.01) and smaller diastolic AP, by 9.8mmHg (?<0.01). The correlations between the two methods were highly significant, but the limits of agreement were relatively wide for both systolic and diastolic AP measurements. We conclude that a clinically important difference exists in diastolic AP measurements. Dinamap diastolic AP must be corrected using a regression equation, or simply by adding 10 mm Hg, before being compared with the available normal and hypertensive AP values. (Br. J. Anaesth. 1993; 70: 141-144). © 1993 British journal of Anaesthesia.