Effect of vertical distance between the heart base and the cuff on arterial blood pressure measurements using PetMAP in anaesthetised dogs.

Standardize blood pressure cuff positioning at heart base level; deviations cause clinically significant measurement errors.

This study evaluated how vertical positioning of blood pressure cuffs relative to the heart base affects oscillometric arterial blood pressure measurements in anesthetized dogs using the PetMAP device. Twenty-two healthy dogs were measured with cuffs placed at heart base level, above, and below this reference point, with deviations calculated as 20% of thoracic vertical depth. Results demonstrated clinically significant measurement variations based on cuff positioning. When the thoracic limb was lowered (cuff below heart base), systolic and mean arterial pressures increased, with differences correlating positively to body weight (up to 3.7 mmHg). When the pelvic limb was elevated (cuff above heart base), systolic, mean, and diastolic pressures all decreased significantly, with mean differences reaching 6.1 mmHg. Even small positional deviations of 3 cm produced clinically relevant blood pressure misreadings up to 6 mmHg. These findings underscore the critical importance of standardized cuff positioning at heart base level during blood pressure monitoring in anesthetized dogs to ensure accurate hemodynamic assessment.

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