Validation of a Plethysmographic Method for Measuring the Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure in Man

Abstract

Venous occlusion plethysmography has been applied to measure the systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure. With this method the systolic blood pressure is defined as the highest cuff pressure at which a minimal inflow is recorded. The diastolic pressure equals the highest cuff pressure at which a maximal inflow is obtained. In the present report the validity of this hypothesis has been studied by parallel recording of hand blood flow and intra-vascular pressure from the corresponding artery. The two methods show satisfactory agreement. The plethysmographic method is therefore suggested in situations where other methods may not be practicable, such as in the newborn infant and in adults with occlusive arterial disease.

Key Words:

• Blood flow
• blood pressure
• newborn
• occlusive arterial disease
• plethysmography