Blood Pressure Variation on Each Measuring Site in the Right Lateral Position

Blood pressure is an important indicator in diagnosis and in assessing treatment of a patient. Numerous factors influence an individual’s blood pressure measurement, one of which body position (Kozier & Erb, 1987; Fitzpatrick, Ortiz, Sibilano, Marcantonio & Braun, 1999). To measure blood pressure exactly, the cuffed upper arm and the heart should be kept at the same level whether the patient is reclining, sitting or standing (Potter & Perry, 1995). Measurements made with the arm dangling by the hip have been on an average 11 to 12 mmHg higher than those made with the arm supported and the cuff at heart level (Londe & Gollub, 1979; Webster, 1984). In studies using normal blood pressure measurements in intensive care units where the transducer was placed at the same level as the right atrium, it was observed that significant statistical differences (p=0.677) did not occur between the supine position and various reclining position,(i.e. 30°, 45°) (Song, Mun & Park, 2000). Blood Pressure Variation on Each Measuring Site in the Right Lateral Position