A CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF AN OSCILLOMETRIC BLOOD-PRESSURE MONITOR ON ANESTHETIZED HORSES

The accuracy of an oscillometric blood pressure monitor (Vet/BP 6000, Sensor Devices, Inc., Waukesha, WI) was assessed in 13 anesthetized ho rses undergoing a variety of clinical procedures. The oscillometric bl ood pressure measurements using a cuff placed around the base of the t ail were compared to simultaneously recorded direct pressure readings. One hundred nine sets of blood pressure measurements were recorded. I n addition the pulse rates, as determined by digital palpation and osc illometric measurement, the time required for an oscillometric measure ment, and the number of attempts required by the oscillometric unit we re recorded. The average difference between the direct and oscillometr ic blood pressures were 18, 9, and 11 mmHg for the systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures, respectively. The oscillometric an d direct pressure measurements showed significant correlation with a c orrelation coefficient of 0.93 for the mean arterial pressure. The osc illometrically determined pulse rate (average-33 pulses/min) was signi ficantly different than the pulse rate determined by palpation (averag e-33.4 pulses/minute) but the difference was less than one. The averag e time required for a determination was 69 seconds and the average num ber of attempts required was 1.02 per determination.