Indirect Blood Pressure Measurement in Newborns

Abstract

Indirect blood pressure measurements in neonates, performed with a Doppler ultrasound instrument, correlated well with direct measurements of arterial pressure in 495 comparisons. Results obtained by medical and nursing personnel, who had had little experience with the method, approached the accuracy achieved by experienced observers, and were within clinically acceptable limits. This new method serves a need by providing accuracy comparable to conventional indirect procedures, without the hazards of arterial catheterization.