Determining the relationship between invasive and noninvasive blood pressure values

Blood pressure measurements are a common indicator of cardiovascular status. The two most frequently used methods of obtaining this measurement in the NICU are direct measurement using an umbilical arterial catheter and indirect measurement with a cuff. Cuff values obtained from the upper arm or thigh are reported to correlate with umbilical arterial measurements. It is common practice in some NICUs to utilize the calf of the infant's leg to obtain cuff blood pressure readings. The goal of this pilot investigation was to determine if blood pressure values obtained from the left calf of neonates weighing at least 800 gm correlate with measurements obtained from the umbilical arterial catheter. A descriptive correlational design was used for this investigation. A convenience sample of 20 infants was obtained. Data were analyzed using the Pearson r with a significance level of .01.