3.4
Cuff Placement
Proper cuff size and placement is essential to assure accurate blood pressure measurement.
The American Heart Association recommends cuff sizes should be at a length to width ratio of about 2:1,
ensuring that if the bladder width is 40 percent the arm circumference, the bladder length will encircle 80 percent
of the arm.
Below, in Figure 2.1, bladder width is small for arm, and full cuff pressure is never applied to artery. An errone-
ously high pressure results. Below, in Figure 2.2, bladder width is adequate for arm, and full cuff pressure is
applied to brachial artery.
Cuffs for the thigh are available for large patients or those where neither arm is available for cuff placement.
Blood pressure measured at the thigh is typically 20 - 30 mmHg higher than blood pressure measured at the
upper arm.
Source: American Heart Association
Figure 2.2
Figure 2.1
3-4