Continuous mean arterial pressure measurement in the fingers: the influence of local arm cooling

Two different methods were studied for non-invasive beat-to-beat finger mea n arterial pressure (MAP) measurement in 14 healthy volunteers during local arm cooling to 17 degreesC. Fingertip skin blood flow was recorded by a la ser Doppler instrument. The difference between the oscillometric beat-to-be at blood pressure measurement device (UT9201) and volume clamp monitor (Fin apres) before cooling was -1.5 +/-1.1 mmHg, and, although statistically sig nificant, (p <0.01), this difference cannot be considered clinically meanin gful. The results obtained using the two devices during arm cooling showed a systematic disagreement in the continuously recorded MAP. After a 30s per iod of cooling, the group-averaged difference of UT9201 minus Finapres, cal culated as change from the baseline, reached (mean SD) 8.8 +/-6.3 mmHg (sta tistically significant, p <0.01).