Validation of noninvasive blood pressure equipment: which peripheral artery is best for comparison studies in dogs?

OBJECTIVES

1. To determine which peripheral artery commonly used for invasive arterial blood pressure (IBP) monitoring yields the least bias when compared with noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) values obtained at the antebrachium of the dog, and 2) to identify and describe differences in systolic (SAP), mean (MAP) and diastolic arterial pressures (DAP) among different anatomical locations.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective experimental study.

ANIMALS

Twenty adult hound dogs weighing 24.5 ± 1.1 kg (mean ± standard deviation).

METHODS

Four peripheral arteries-dorsal pedal, median caudal, intermediate auricular and superficial palmar arteries-were catheterized with 20 gauge, 3.8 cm catheters. One NIBP cuff was placed in the middle third of the antebrachium. Four sets of IBP and NIBP measurements were simultaneously collected every 2 minutes. A linear mixed model was performed to analyze the collected data.

RESULTS

IBP values varied depending on the arterial catheterization site. The difference was greater for SAP. NIBP measured at the antebrachium had the best agreement with IBP measured at the median caudal artery.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

IBP varies among anatomical locations. The smallest bias and narrowest limits of agreement were obtained at the median caudal artery, providing the best overall agreement with the equipment studied. The median caudal artery may be the preferable anatomical location for clinical comparison studies between IBP and NIBP in dogs when the cuff is on the antebrachium.