Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring01:25

Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring

Blood pressure monitoring is a crucial clinical procedure in diagnosing and managing various cardiovascular conditions. Despite its significance, the accuracy of blood pressure measurements can be compromised by multiple factors, potentially leading to either falsely high or low readings. These inaccuracies are critical as they can significantly impact patient care. So, it is vital to understand these challenges deeply and adopt strategic approaches to minimize errors.
Several factors...
Special considerations while measuring blood pressure01:28

Special considerations while measuring blood pressure

When assessing blood pressure (BP), healthcare professionals must consider various factors and potential unexpected outcomes to ensure accurate readings and provide proper patient care. Adhering to these guidelines is essential to achieving the most reliable results.
Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.
Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure01:10

Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure

Accurate blood pressure assessment is crucial for diagnosing and managing various health conditions. To ensure the reliability of these measurements, healthcare professionals must adhere to standardized pre-procedural guidelines. These guidelines enhance patient safety and improve the overall quality of healthcare. The following steps are essential for obtaining accurate and consistent blood pressure readings, from using the appropriate tools to ensuring effective communication with the patient.
Sites for measuring blood pressure01:21

Sites for measuring blood pressure

Blood pressure measurement is a fundamental clinical procedure, providing crucial data for assessing cardiovascular health. Among the various sites for this measurement, the brachial and popliteal arteries are predominantly utilized due to their accessibility and the reliability of their readings. This lesson delves into the anatomical significance, methodology, and considerations of measuring blood pressure at these locations.
The Brachial Artery: Primary Site for Blood Pressure Measurement
Measurement of Blood Pressure01:17

Measurement of Blood Pressure

Assessing blood pressure is a standard procedure executed in virtually all medical environments. The method utilized today was established over a hundred years ago by an innovative Russian doctor, Dr. Nikolai Korotkoff. The soft ticking noise, known as Korotkoff sounds, heard while taking blood pressure readings results from turbulent blood flow within the vessels. The apparatus required for this procedure includes a sphygmomanometer, a blood pressure cuff attached to a gauge, and a stethoscope.
Assessment of blood pressure in brachial artery(two-step method)01:23

Assessment of blood pressure in brachial artery(two-step method)

Measuring blood pressure is a fundamental skill in healthcare that aids in diagnosing and monitoring hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. An aneroid sphygmomanometer, commonly used in clinical settings, offers a manual and precise method for blood pressure measurement. The technique for using this instrument involves specific steps that must be carefully executed to ensure accuracy. The following detailed description outlines a two-step technique for assessing blood pressure using...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Comparing the performance of 2 human papillomavirus assays for a new use indication: a real-world evidence-based evaluation in the United States.

American journal of obstetrics and gynecology·2023
Same author

Research integrity in clinical trials: innocent errors and spin versus scientific misconduct.

Current opinion in obstetrics & gynecology·2022
Same author

Factors that Influence the Reported Sensitivity of Rapid Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2.

Frontiers in microbiology·2021
Same author

Antigen-Based Testing but Not Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Correlates With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Viral Culture.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2021
Same author

The Potential Clinical and Economic Value of a Human Papillomavirus Primary Screening Test That Additionally Identifies Genotypes 31, 45, 51, and 52 Individually.

Sexually transmitted diseases·2020
Same author

Human Papillomavirus Same Genotype Persistence and Risk: A Systematic Review.

Journal of lower genital tract disease·2020

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Continuous Venous-Arterial Doppler Ultrasound During a Preload Challenge
09:32

Continuous Venous-Arterial Doppler Ultrasound During a Preload Challenge

Published on: January 20, 2023

Inaccuracies introduced by single width blood pressure cuffs.

Jeffrey C Andrews1, Blake Dewitt, Terry E Czerwien

  • 1West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX, USA.

Hypertension Research : Official Journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension
|November 5, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Single width blood pressure cuffs may lead to misdiagnosis. Proportional cuff widths ensure accurate blood pressure readings, preventing potential hypertension or hypotension misclassifications.

More Related Videos

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound
10:08

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound

Published on: December 2, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Continuous Venous-Arterial Doppler Ultrasound During a Preload Challenge
09:32

Continuous Venous-Arterial Doppler Ultrasound During a Preload Challenge

Published on: January 20, 2023

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound
10:08

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound

Published on: December 2, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Medical Device Technology
  • Clinical Measurement

Background:

  • Blood pressure cuff dimensions significantly impact measurement accuracy.
  • Cuff width must correlate with arm circumference for reliable readings.
  • Standardized protocols exist for validating blood pressure device accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the accuracy of 12cm single-width cuffs against international standards.
  • To determine if single-width cuffs meet Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), British Hypertension Society (BHS), and European Society of Hypertension (ESH) International Protocol (IP1) criteria.
  • To evaluate the clinical implications of using non-proportional cuff widths.

Main Methods:

  • 101 subjects underwent sequential blood pressure measurements using both single-width and proportional-width cuffs.
  • Measurements were taken by two observers using auscultatory methods with a double binaural stethoscope.
  • Accuracy was evaluated by comparing measurements against AAMI, BHS, and IP1 standards.

Main Results:

  • The 12cm single-width cuff failed AAMI accuracy standards for systolic BP in large arms and diastolic BP in small and large arms.
  • Single-width cuffs also failed BHS accuracy standards for diastolic BP.
  • Overall accuracy of single-width cuffs was insufficient according to the evaluated standards.

Conclusions:

  • Single-width blood pressure cuffs can lead to significant misdiagnosis and mistreatment of hypertension.
  • Using cuff widths proportional to arm circumference is crucial to avoid 'cuff hypertension' and 'cuff hypotension'.
  • Current single-width cuff standards may compromise patient care and require re-evaluation.