BLOOD-PRESSURE MEASUREMENT IN PREGNANT-WOMEN IN THE LEFT LATERAL RECUMBENT POSITION

To evaluate blood pressure in pregnant women in the left lateral posit ion, we studied indirect blood pressure in 169 patients with normal bl ood pressure, chronic hypertension, and preeclampsia in the supine and then the lateral recumbent positions. Two additional patients had aor tic arch blood pressure compared with indirect measures. For all group s, mean arterial pressure in the lateral position was lower than in th e supine position. Regarding direct aortic arch blood pressure, (1) su pine blood pressure equaled that in the lateral position and (2) direc t blood pressure in the lateral position equaled the mean indirect mea n arterial pressure of both arms. Therefore the actual blood pressure in the lateral recumbent position is the combined mean arterial pressu re of both arms.