Aortocaval compression and uterine displacement

Abstract

Simultaneous brachial and femoral blood pressure monitoring has shown that femoral hypotension becomes manifest with greater frequency than brachial hypotension when the term pregnant woman lies supine. Since decreased femoral blood pressure is indicative of lower aortic obstruction, uterine displacement should be undertaken whenever a woman in the last trimester must assume the supine position, regardless of whether brachial pressure declines.