Automated blood pressure measurement during ergometer exercise in children

The measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure during exercise is often difficult to perform due to patient motion and environmental noise. We evaluated an automated system of blood pressure determination in 121 children undergoing cycle ergometer stress testing. The system (Critikon Model 1165) utilized acoustic transduction, with electrocardiogram gating and microprocessor signal filtering. One observer measured the blood pressure values from the same arm as the automated system; this observer was blinded to the readout of the system. The correlation coefficients for systolic blood pressure at rest, during exercise, and during recovery were all greater than 0.91, and improved with the use of a stethophone adapter. This system can eliminate intraobserver variation as well as the necessity for the technician or physician to direct attention away from the electrocardiogram and patient during stress testing.