Oscillometric Measurement of Mean Arterial Pressure: The Effect of Position on Prediction of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension

Summary

To explain reported differences in the predictive ability of mean arterial pressure for proteinuric and non-proteinuric pregnancy induced hypertension, a prospective comparison was conducted of second trimester mean arterial pressure measured in left lateral and supine positions using a Dinamap.

Thirty-four patients developed pregnancy induced hypertension, 15 with proteinuria. Left lateral mean arterial pressure predicted proteinuric pregnancy induced hypertension better than supine mean arterial pressure (P = 0.05), whereas non-proteinuric pregnancy induced hypertension was predicted rather better by supine mean arterial pressure (P<0.1).

Differences in reports of mean arterial pressure prediction of pregnancy induced hypertension relate to differences in patient positioning and instrumentation.