Noninvasive Arterial Blood Pressure Monitoring

Evaluation of the relationship between peripheral pulse palpation and Doppler systolic blood pressure in dogs presenting to an emergency service

“…However, pulse palpation as a diagnostic test had a low sensitivity and positive predictive value for detecting hypotension, meaning that a dog with palpable metatarsal pulses could still be hypotensive. This finding is in contrast with previous anecdotal statements that DMP are only palpable when the SBP is at least 80–90 mm Hg . The data presented here indicate that DMP may still be palpable when the SBP is < 90 mm Hg.…”

“…Systolic blood pressure was measured prior to any intervention, using standard technique with a Doppler flow detector a affixed with a 9.5‐MHz probe . Cuff size was selected based on the limb circumference of the dog (approximately 40% of the limb).…”

“…Some authors state that evaluation of the peripheral pulse quality is a poor indicator of arterial blood pressure since normal pulse quality may be appreciated despite an abnormal systolic or diastolic blood pressure . Other authors suggest that peripheral pulse palpation is useful as a surrogate marker of blood pressure, and that the presence of a palpable dorsal metatarsal pulse (DMP) indicates a SBP of ≥ 80–90 mm Hg . Currently, there are no clinical studies evaluating peripheral pulse palpation and its relationship to SBP in dogs.…”

Prediction of systolic blood pressure using peripheral pulse palpation in cats

“…In our study, many cats still had metatarsal pulses palpable when the SBP was < 90 mm Hg. This is in contrast to the previous anecdotal statement that dorsal metatarsal pulses are only palpable when the SBP is > 90 mm Hg …”

“…Evaluation of pulse pressure, in addition to other physical examination parameters, may provide supportive evidence for the presence or absence of hypotension. Anecdotally, it has been stated that pedal pulses are palpable when the systolic blood pressure is greater than 90 mm Hg whereas an absence of both femoral pulses and pedal pulses suggests that the animal's systolic blood pressure is less than 60 mm Hg . To the authors’ knowledge, no clinical studies have been performed evaluating the quality of peripheral pulses as assessed by digital palpation and its relationship to arterial blood pressure.…”