Precautions With Using Automatically Cycled Blood Pressure Cuffs
Appendix
6 - 20
Accutorr V Operating Instructions
6.9
Precautions With Using Automatically Cycled Blood
Pressure Cuffs
Reports have been made of nerve injury occurring during use of automatically cycled blood
pressure cuffs. Mindray recommends the following practices when using
automatically cycled
blood pressure cuffs:
• Position and support the limb in such a way as to minimize stretching of and weight
exertion on affected nerves.
• Avoid cuff placement that applies pressure on the ulnar nerve. Cuff tubing should not exit
the cuff over the course of the ulnar nerve at the elbow.
• Select a measurement interval that provides adequate venous drainage during cuff
deflation.
• Periodically inspect the limb bearing the cuff in order to detect venostasis.
6.9.1
Cuff Size
Using a narrow cuff gives erroneously high pressure readings. If a standard cuff is applied to
an obese patient or a patient with large biceps, the extra tissue and fat will dissipate the
applied pressure, requiring an additional pressure increase to collapse the artery. On the
other hand, over-wrapping a slender arm gives erroneously low pressure readings. Too much
force per unit area is exerted. This requires less pressure to collapse the artery.
6.9.2
Other Factors
An accurate determination of blood pressure by the Accutorr V can be difficult if cardiac
rhythm is very irregular. Irregular cardiac rhythm changes the stroke volume from beat to
beat. This changing stroke volume may increase the time it takes the Accutorr V to make a
measurement. The Accutorr V system will take up to four successive attempts to obtain a
measurement. If a measurement cannot be made an error code will be displayed.
