Comparison of lingual oscillometric and invasive blood pressure measurement in dogs under general anaesthesia.

Lingual oscillometry is acceptable for trending mean and diastolic pressure but should not replace invasive monitoring.

This prospective observational study evaluated the agreement between tongue-based oscillometric blood pressure (OBP) monitoring and invasive arterial blood pressure (IBP) measurement in 89 anaesthetised dogs, generating 1780 paired observations. Agreement was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis and validated against both ACVIM and AAMI/ESH/ISO criteria. Tongue-based oscillometry met ACVIM criteria for mean arterial pressure (MAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), but failed to meet the more stringent AAMI/ESH/ISO validation thresholds for any pressure parameter. Systolic arterial pressure (SAP) did not meet ACVIM criteria and demonstrated magnitude-dependent underestimation, which was more pronounced in dogs weighing >10 kg and in non-chondrodystrophic breeds. Dogs ≤10 kg and chondrodystrophic breeds showed no clear pressure-dependent bias for SAP. Limits of agreement for MAP and DAP, while meeting ACVIM criteria, remained wide, limiting direct substitution for IBP. One dog experienced transient tongue swelling; no other adverse events were reported, suggesting the technique is generally safe. The authors conclude that lingual oscillometry is a clinically acceptable alternative for trending MAP and DAP when invasive monitoring is unavailable, but should not replace IBP as a gold standard. SAP values must be interpreted with particular caution, especially at higher pressures in larger or non-chondrodystrophic dogs. Clinicians should integrate lingual OBP data within the broader clinical context rather than relying on it as a standalone diagnostic tool.

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