Question about the stethoscope blood pressure device....

[Matthew99]

I always wanted to know, does the systolic start from the moment you can HEAR anything, or from the moment where the indicator starts to jitter?

[DwayneEMTP]

Auscultation is all audio. Following the bouncing needle will put you off into the ditch.

I absolutely get where you're coming from though. Intuitively it seems that the bounce of the needle should have some correspondence to the reading of the systolic b/p, and it probably does, just not in any way that is useful to you.

Good question.

Dwayne

[HERBIE1]

Dwayne is right. Do NOT rely on the bouncing needle- it is NOT accurate. If you want to prove that for yourself, do a little comparison. Auscultate a BP, palpate a BP, and then obtain one by watching the needle bounce on the gauge. Do this for multiple people, and compare the results.

[Matthew99]

Thanks I'll from now on only trust my listening sense when it comes to BP pressure then.

[Richard B the EMT]

The only use I have found for watching the needle on the sphigmanometer (spelling?) of a BP unit is when I cannot find a radial pulse.

[Chief1C]

To check for accuracy of a unit we purchased and installed in the ambulance, we do similar comparisons. It's a unit that can do several things, not specifically made for EMS, cost as much as a nice used car, and stays put. However, we choose to only employ certain features. Also helps to weed out who can take an accurate BP, b/c it is possible to fake it for years - apparently - and be 'almost right' enough to get by. I did one of our 'self accuracy tests' after I read this earlier. Palp: 106/P; Scope: 110/62; Machine: 108/60.