From this article you will learn: how to measure pressure by an electronic tonometer to get a reliable measurement result. Frequent errors in the measurement.
Contents of the article:
- Pressure measurement rules with electronic tonometer
- Features of measurement with semi-automatic tonometer
- Frequent errors
- Practical tips for measuring pressure
Compared to mechanical tonometers, electronic devices can often display false data. They are more sensitive, and the main causes of incorrect results are caused by violation of the measurement rules. Therefore, it is important to comply with absolutely all requirements for the tonometry technique with an electronic tonometer - we will discuss them further in the article.
Measurement of blood pressure using an electronic tonometer 
Rules for measuring pressure by an electronic tonometer
Here is the correct procedure for action:
- Prepare for the study: it is advisable to conduct it after you have rested( sit quietly) for 5 minutes. This requirement can be neglected if the patient's condition requires urgent medical attention.
- If a person who is being tonometrically monitored by an electronic tonometer, smoked or drank coffee 1-2 hours before the test, the pressure values may be overestimated.
- Sit or seat the person being examined in a chair with a backrest, make sure the body is positioned correctly - the back is relaxed with support on the back of the chair, the legs are lowered, strained and not crossed.
- Loosen left or right shoulder from clothing. Make sure that it does not cause compression and does not interfere with the cuff application. Ideally, the measurement should be carried out on both hands. Of course, if you are right handed, it will be more convenient to do this on your left hand. But if the pressure difference between the left and the right exceeds 10 mm Hg, measure better on that arm where the indices are higher.
- Place your hand on the stand( for example on the table) so that it is bent at the elbow, lying on the surface of the support by the extensor surface of the forearm and was absolutely relaxed.
- Take an electronic blood pressure monitor, make sure that there are no obvious damage to the apparatus, torsion and kink of the hose.
- Unfold the cuff and wrap it around the shoulder so that it is 2 cm above the elbow fold, the pneumatic hose that goes to the device was turned towards the brush, located in the center of the ulnar fossa( along the conditional line connecting itwith the middle finger of the brush).
- If the cuff has a mark, make sure that it is located in the middle of the inner surface of the shoulder.
- Press the power button.
- Wait until the pump is automatically pumped and drained. Do not do anything at this time.
- On the electronic display of the device will appear numbers - the top displays systolic pressure, the lower one - diastolic. Most of the devices also show the heart rate, the rate of which is lower than the rest. In this case, the diastolic pressure figures will be located above the pulse( middle column).
- Press the button, turn off the machine and wait until it turns off automatically.
- Remove the cuff - the measurement is complete.
Rules for measuring pressure with an electronic tonometer 
Rules for applying a tonometer cuff to the hand Features of a semiautomatic electronic tonometer
A semi-automatic tonometer is a device that independently determines arterial pressure numbers, but it is necessary to inject air with the help of a pear. According to some sources, its results are more reliable than a fully automatic device. In general, you need to measure by the same algorithm, the differences are only in such moments:
- After you have correctly put the cuff on your shoulder, turn on the tonometer by pressing the trigger button on its casing.
- Take the rubber bulb of the device into a free hand and puff air into the cuff to a level of 20-30 mm Hg. Art.higher than the usual or presumed pressure. If you do not know these figures, you can inject air up to 200 mm Hg.it will not be a mistake.
- After injecting the desired pressure in the cuff, press the button near the pear so that the air begins to flow smoothly. At this time, the device will determine the pressure itself.
- The results will appear on the digital display, similar to the figures described in the section "Measuring rules for the automatic electronic tonometer - item 11".
- To finish the procedure, press the start button again and the button near the pear, remove the cuff.
Common errors
Typical errors that distort the results of pressure measurement with an electronic tonometer:
- Failure to comply with the requirements for measuring in a state of complete physical and psycho-emotional rest is a false overestimation of the instrument.
- The hand on which the cuff is worn is stressed or located on the weight.
- The cuff is put over the clothes.
- The shoulder is improperly freed from clothing - it squeezes the fabric, the cuff grabs its edge.
- High or low cuff position relative to the ulnar fossa.
- The appliance is switched on before the cuff is applied.
- Incorrect hose position( over the outer surface of the shoulder) or a mismatch mark on the cuff in the middle of the inner surface of the shoulder.
- Too tight or, on the contrary, too loose fit of the cuff to the shoulder.
- Conversation or any voltage during the measurement.
- A pause of 1-2 min between several changes on one hand was not sustained.
If you have any doubts about the results of measuring the pressure with an electronic tonometer( the figures do not correspond to your well-being), be sure to perform a control measurement with a classical mechanical tonometer!
Practical tips for measuring pressure
Recommendations that help you avoid wrong results in tonometry:
- If you constantly measure pressure with an electronic tonometer, keep records of each study, noting the date, time and magnitude of the indicators.
- Be sure to periodically check the pressure with a mechanical tonometer. It is better, that it was done by the expert( it is better than the attending physician).
- If the parameters of the mechanical and electronic tonometers differ, you must trust the first.
- For greater certainty, it is better to measure the pressure several times on both hands during a single session, soak 1-2 minutes between changes.
- The results of three measurements are considered reliable, the difference between which does not exceed 5 mm Hg. Art.
