Semi-Automatic Digital BP Unit

[rando1321]

what is the diff between an bp cuff/stethescope or an Semi-Automatic Digital BP Unit. Is any of these being used in the feild. I feel that using a automatic digital unit would allow the responder to talk to the pt and hear then having your ears plug, also another problem I have is listening to the beats when so much is going on around you. any help would be helpful..
Thanks

[PSYCtest040]

what is the diff between an bp cuff/stethescope or an Semi-Automatic Digital BP Unit. Is any of these being used in the feild. I feel that using a automatic digital unit would allow the responder to talk to the pt and hear then having your ears plug, also another problem I have is listening to the beats when so much is going on around you. any help would be helpful..
Thanks

Taking a blood pressure manually is the most effective way to do it. The NIBP is a great tool but can give erroneous readings, especially if the patient is moving their arms around, As for not being able to hear the heard beats, that comes with practice, which you will not get if you do it digitally. A trick I learned long ago was to palpate the radial pulse while inflating the cuff and watch the gage, when the pulse disappears inflate 20mm/hg more then start to listen. Gives you a good idea when you should start to hear the pulses.

[Medic101Charlie]

Taking a blood pressure manually is the most effective way to do it. The NIBP is a great tool but can give erroneous readings, especially if the patient is moving their arms around, As for not being able to hear the heard beats, that comes with practice, which you will not get if you do it digitally. A trick I learned long ago was to palpate the radial pulse while inflating the cuff and watch the gage, when the pulse disappears inflate 20mm/hg more then start to listen. Gives you a good idea when you should start to hear the pulses.

Completely concur.

We use a NIBP on the MICU but ANYTIME there is a significant change I get the trusty old BP cuff out to recheck it.

Alot of it is dependent on patient positioning, if they are taking a deep breath, moving around or whatever.

The big risk is becoming dependent on technology and losing our disposable skills.

the NIBP machine is a tool for the tool box and nothing more. It must remain in context and remain in its place.

Jim

[bakerotfd]

Couldn't agree more with the above posts. I have been been burned before when I got complacent with the auto NIBP on our LP 12.

[Medic_QT]

Yeah.. I've had the LP cuff read in the 50's on a patient sitting there talking to me after I got a manual cuff pressure in the 130's.

If I have a flu-like sx or something like that where the patient is completely stable/BLS, I will use the LP cuff only after I've gotten a baseline manual BP. If I have a true-to-life ALS run, like a cardiac CP, I will do all manual BP's. The NIBP is simply a luxury that I don't rely on one bit.

I hate ECF's who use the wrist BP machines and call us when the patient is ACTUALLY completely stable and sans complaint.. Check it manually. You are not playing the BUFF n TURF game with us.

[FF/EMTP1317]

I agree with what's been said so far. It is important to at least get a manual BP for your baseline when it is a true ALS pt. I have very short transport times at my ft job so I usually use the LP cuff for second a subsequent BPs.

[scribble]

I hate auto cuffs. Especially when nursie says "it's more accurate" which is actually their way of calling you a liar when the patient is not ready for discharge.

[Ditch Doc]

I absolutely refuse to use the auto-cuffs. We use Zoll (E-series), and they are painfully inaccurate.

Sad that these days, medic students are taught to rely on things like auto-cuffs and SPO2 instead of their own skill, especially since so much of what we do is based on BP and adequate perfusion. I will say that both tools have their place, but just not in an emergent setting or a learning environment.

Remember: "Treat your patient, not your equipment"

[CHASgirl6204]

I absolutely refuse to use the auto-cuffs. We use Zoll (E-series), and they are painfully inaccurate.

Sad that these days, medic students are taught to rely on things like auto-cuffs and SPO2 instead of their own skill, especially since so much of what we do is based on BP and adequate perfusion. I will say that both tools have their place, but just not in an emergent setting or a learning environment.

Remember: "Treat your patient, not your equipment"

I agree with everyone. Except I don't agree with your one statement above. I don't think medic students these days are "taught" to rely on this; and certainly, if they are...then they need to run from their instructor who doesn't know their head from...well....you know the rest. I don't think it is necessarily what you are taught, it is how ambitious you are to do your job and do it well. Any Basic students that ride with me don't touch the LP cuff. You're doing them manually, there is no choice. If you don't learn the fundamentals the old-fashioned way, you'll never excel with doing anything new.

[sweet_melinda]

I just finished medic school about a year ago and we were told not to use them....like it was LAW. I only use it now to supplement my use of the manual BP cuff. I always get a manual baseline first and usually after any Tx.